The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) today called for calm on the going impasse between the Wesley Girls High School and the Ghana Education Service (GES) over the right of Muslim students in the school to fast during this Ramadan.
“We believe that each party in their respective viewpoints do wish the best for the child concerned. But this can only be done in the midst of calm”, this contained in a statement issued and signed by the Executive Council Chairman of the GNECC, Joseph Atsu Homadzi.
Recently, the Methodist Church rejected a directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES), permitting Muslims in Wesley Girls’ High School and other schools to observe the Ramadan fast.
The GNECC’s statement however expressed concern that the school (Wesley Girls High School) did not heed the GES directive because the GNECC believes this might set a precedence for other schools to disregard the Supervisory Agency in other matters.
No matter how genuine their traditions and the welfare of the students they have at heart, we think they could
dialogue a better solution before making a final verdict, the statement said.
Further to this, the GNECC is of the view that there is the need for all stakeholders to seek “guiding interpretations” to the provisions in the 1992 Constitution, Article 14, (1) (e) which indicates that no person shall be deprived of their personal liberty/rights except: “for the purpose of the education or welfare of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years”.
“It is on this premise that we of GNECC wish to call on all Stakeholders especially Policy Makers and
Implementers to agree on developing National Policies to serve as a guide to this issue and similar issues to
ensure that all stakeholders adhere to the resolution in the best interest of the child”, the statement concluded.
African Eye Report
