The Supreme Court has granted Democracy Hub leave to file a written address as a friend of the court (amicus curiae) in the high-profile case challenging religious discrimination policies at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School.
In today’s ruling, the court also ordered the school, GES and the Attorney-General to file their responses to the plaintiff’s action.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by a lawyer, Shafic Osman, in December 2024.
He is challenging Wesley Girls’ policies that allegedly restrict Muslim students from observing key religious practices, including wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, and other Islamic rites.
Osman argues that these restrictions violate constitutional freedoms under the 1992 Constitution, including freedom of religion, equality, and protection from discrimination.
In its defence, the Attorney-General, on behalf of Wesley Girls SHS and the Ghana Education Service, has insisted the school, founded and run by the Methodist Church, has the right to preserve its denominational identity.
Meanwhile, the AG is seeking permission to amend its original statement of case to more fully contest the plaintiff’s constitutional claims.
Read Also: Attorney General backs Wesley Girls SHS in Supreme Court case over alleged religious discrimination
Legal commentators have weighed in with some arguing that as a publicly funded school, Wesley Girls must adhere to the Constitution, not just its denominational traditions.
Some have described the lawsuit as a landmark challenge to policies of “religious non-accommodation” in Ghana’s mission schools, contending that the case could set a precedent for how public institutions handle religious diversity.
By allowing Democracy Hub to file a written submission, the court is broadening the scope for civil society to contribute to the debate over religious freedom in public education.
The decision comes as public interest in the case continues to grow, particularly around how Ghana can balance denominational school traditions with constitutional guarantees for all faiths.
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