President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that no student should be forced to practice a religion against their will because of the school they attend.
He made the statement during a meeting with the Conference of Regional Chief Imams of Ghana on September 11, 2025.
According to a report published on presidency.gov.gh the same day, the meeting was aimed at reaffirming government’s dedication to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, particularly between Christians and Muslims.
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The discussions, held at the Presidency, followed recent public debates and controversies surrounding religious practices in some mission schools.
President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, including the right to worship and express one’s faith, and that no student should be compelled to abandon their beliefs.
“Ghana is a nation of diverse religions, and one of the things our Constitution guarantees is the freedom of religion, freedom to worship, and freedom to express one’s religious identity,” he stated.
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He highlighted the challenges faced by students in communities where schools are run by a single religious mission and insisted that faith must not become a barrier to education.
“It doesn’t help that if Christian children are in a Muslim school, they should be forced to adopt Islam. In the same way, if a Christian school is in a predominantly Muslim community, it should not compel students to suppress their religion,” he explained.
To address these tensions, the President announced that the Minister of the Interior is leading a comprehensive dialogue process. This initiative has already resulted in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at promoting religious tolerance and ensuring respectful coexistence within mission schools nationwide.
The Secretary to the Conference of Regional Chief Imams, Alhaji Sullah Abdullah Quandah, expressed gratitude to President Mahama, acknowledging his steadfast support for the Muslim community.
He praised the President for fulfilling campaign promises made at the 3rd National Conference of Imams in Kumasi in 2023, including the declaration of an additional holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
Alhaji Quandah also offered prayers for the success of the President’s vision to improve the human resource base of the Muslim community in Ghana.
The Conference of Regional Chief Imams, which brings together all Regional Chief Imams under the guidance of the National Chief Imam, functions as a legal entity.
VPO/MA
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