By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Anglican Church of Ghana has issued a strong statement supporting the authority of mission schools to uphold their religious identity and regulations, amid renewed national debate over religious accommodations at Wesley Girls’ High School.
In the statement signed by Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa, the Church emphasised that mission schools were established deliberately to transmit spiritual and moral values, and therefore possess an “incontrovertible right” to maintain rules that align with their foundational mission.
According to the Church, this right, which includes setting rules on uniforms, religious practices, and conduct, is protected by Ghana’s Constitution, specifically Article 21(1)(c) and Article 43.
The Anglican Church aligned itself with earlier positions taken by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana, insisting that respecting the autonomy of mission schools does not amount to discrimination. Rather, it is an affirmation of the rule of law and the country’s guarantees on religious freedom.
While reiterating its own commitment to religious tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, the Church noted that these values must coexist with the legitimate expectations of faith-based institutions. It warned that compelling such schools to abandon or dilute their religious character would infringe on constitutionally protected freedoms of religion and association.
The statement called on government officials, legal practitioners, parents, and the general public to approach the issue with “judicious balance,” stressing the need for dialogue that protects both the rights of religious institutions and the aspirations of students.
The Anglican Church expressed confidence that ongoing legal and public deliberations would yield outcomes that safeguard the interests of all stakeholders.
