GMSA Petitions Parliament Over Compulsory Christian Activities For Muslim Students In Mission Schools

The Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA) has called on Parliament’s Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs to intervene and engage Christian mission schools that compel Muslim students to participate in Christian religious activities.

The call was made by the Chairman of the Association, Dr. Sheikh Amin Bonsu, during an engagement with the Committee.

Dr. Bonsu expressed concern over what he described as the lack of religious tolerance and accommodation in some Christian mission schools for Muslim students.

He noted that while Islamic mission schools make adequate provisions for Christian students to freely observe and practise their faith, the same courtesy and arrangement are often not extended to Muslim students in Christian mission schools.

According to him, Muslim students in some mission schools are compelled to attend church services, participate in Christian devotions and conform to Christian doctrines against their religious beliefs, a practice he says violates their fundamental right to freedom of religion.

Dr. Bonsu therefore urged the Parliamentary Committee to engage the leadership of mission schools and the Ghana Education Service to ensure that clear guidelines are put in place to protect the religious rights of all students regardless of the nature of the school’s mission.

He stressed that fostering mutual respect for religious diversity in schools is crucial for promoting peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.

By Deborah Adorsu