Ghana Catholic Bishops file affidavit in Supreme Court over Wesley Girls’ religious rights dispute

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has filed an affidavit at the Supreme Court of Ghana to verify facts and documents contained in an amicus curiae brief submitted to the court in a case concerning religious rights in Ghana’s public school system.

The affidavit was sworn by Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua and Episcopal Chairman for Education of the Catholic Bishops’ conference, who stated that he had been authorised by the Church to represent it in matters relating to education.

The case was brought by lawyer Shafic Osman, who is challenging policies at Wesley Girls’ High School, which he alleges compel Muslim students to participate in Christian religious activities while restricting them from practising aspects of their faith.

He argues that the directives violate provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, particularly protections for freedom of conscience and religion.

In his affidavit, Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum said his knowledge of the issues in the Church’s submission stems from his role of overseeing education within the Catholic Church in Ghana and consultations with lawyers acting on its behalf.

He also confirmed that the Church’s submission relies on a Memorandum of Understanding to Guide Religious Tolerance in Schools, adopted in April 2024 by government-assisted and private mission schools.

Ghana’s Attorney-General’s Department has argued before the court that although Wesley Girls’ High School receives public funding, the school’s proprietors retain the right to maintain its religious traditions.

The case is being heard by a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang and is expected to clarify how Ghana balances constitutional religious freedoms with the autonomy of faith-based schools.

The dispute highlights tensions common across several African countries, where churches and other religious bodies run publicly funded schools while students from diverse faith backgrounds attend them.

Legal experts say the ruling could shape how constitutional religious rights are balanced against the autonomy of faith-based educational institutions in Ghana and in similar systems across the continent.

Read the full affidavit here: SHAFIC OSMAN v. BOARD OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS & 2 ORS-AFFIDAVIT AND AN AMICUS CURIAE_Scanned

Read the full affidavit here: AFFIDAVIT -BISHOP JOSEPH KWAKU AFRIFAH-AGYEKUM