The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, is calling for a roundtable discussion with all parties for and against the decision by authorities of the Wesley Girls’ High School not to allow a Muslim student to observe the Ramadan fast.
According to him, the meeting is meant to help all stakeholders figure out a lasting situation that will enable them to resolve the matter amicably.
His comment follows a call on the Ghana Education Service (GES) by a group calling itself the Coalition of Muslim Organizations Ghana (COMOG), to immediately remove the headmistress of Wesley Girls’ Senior High school.
The President of COMOG, Hajj Abdel-Manan Abdel Rahman in a Citi News interview said the government must call authorities of the school to order.
“We need to protect the peaceful coexistence that we have been enjoying as a country. We are governed by a constitution, we are governed by laws, and therefore we cannot trample on somebody’s rights. Muslims are part of this society. Methodist Church is a friend of COMOG, we have our students in [other]Methodist Schools who enjoy the freedom of religion.”
“We have absolutely no problem with the Methodist Church. What we are saying is that we have common policies that run through mission schools. The common policy does not include denying someone’s rights. In Accra, we have schools such as Aquinas having mosques, same as Mfantsipim School for students of Muslim origin and that is what we are talking about. We are encouraging inclusiveness. We are human beings, and we are Ghanaians and as Ghanaians, we are saying that we have tolerated this inter-religious harmony, and therefore it should be encouraged,” he added.
But Akatsi North legislator also in a Citi News said engaging in constructive dialogue on the matter is the way to go.
According to him, the current ongoing discussions in the media are not healthy for peace in the country.
“The various agencies and organizations giving divergent views on this matter should rather meet at a roundtable conference probably sponsored by the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Ministry of Education to resolve this matter because one we are continuing to discuss it this way may create a conflict for us.”
