The leadership of the Methodist Church of Ghana has refused to accede to the ‘unilateral directives’ issued by the Ghana Education Service(GES) directing Wesley Girls’ SHS to allow Muslim students to fast while in school.
The Church after an emergency meeting held on Tuesday reacted to a press statement released by the GES on May 1 and signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the head of public relations at GES.
GES directive
The GES directed authorities of the school to allow students who wish to observe the month-long Islamic Ramadan fast while in school to go through the spiritual exercise.
“The Ghana Education Service therefore directs authorities of Wesley Girls High School to allow any such student who wishes to fast for any religious reason to do so. The parents of any such student are also directed to write to the school indicating that the school shall not be held liable for any health condition of the student as a result of the fast,” the GES statement added.
Response
But in a counter press statement released yesterday and signed by the administrative Bishop of the Methodist Church, the Rt. Rev. Michael A. Bossman, it said the Church takes a strong exception to the directive by the GES. The Methodist Church is the missionary body that steers the affairs of the school.
According to the church, the school’s rule is a long standing one which is also non-religious adding various renowned Muslim ladies in Ghana have passed through the school adhering to such a rule.
“The policies of the school over the 186 years of its existence have resulted in Wesley Girls School being the school of choice, excellence and achievement and the church remains in full support of these policies,” the statement said.
The church has thus asked the GES to respect the long-standing partnership between the government and the mission school.
