Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu is the National Chief Imam
The National Muslim Conference of Ghana (NMCG) has stated that Muslim students in government-assisted mission schools are not demanding the construction of mosques on campuses. Instead, they only want the freedom to pray, fast, and opt out of church-related activities.
Their clarification follows a joint statement from the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC).
In a statement issued on November 27, 2025, and signed under the authority of the National Chief Imam, the NMCG expressed concern over the November 25 release by the Christian bodies, saying it attempts to justify limiting the rights of minority religious groups in mission schools that receive state support.
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According to the NMCG, such positions are unconstitutional and contradict the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing government-assisted mission schools, which was signed on April 15, 2024, and later endorsed by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in April 2025.
The group emphasised that the Constitution grants every student the right to practice and express their faith, and schools funded by the state cannot operate as exclusive religious institutions.
They referenced the GES Directive on Religious Tolerance (2015), which bars schools from forcing Muslim students to take part in Christian worship, blocking the wearing of hijab, or preventing them from observing Islamic practices.
The statement also noted that the MoU requires mission schools to respect religious diversity, avoid discrimination, and allow students to practice their faith, including fasting and prayer.
The NMCG urged all institutions to uphold these commitments rather than breach them. They also reminded the public of the National Chief Imam’s dedication to peaceful coexistence, pointing to his visit to Christ the King Catholic Church during his 100th birthday as a symbol of interfaith goodwill.
The group further condemned the mistreatment of vulnerable students and encouraged Islamic schools to honour the rights of non-Muslim learners.
They cited schools like T.I. Ahmadiyyah in Kumasi, Suhum Islamic Girls SHS, and Siddiq SHS, where Christian female students are not made to wear the hijab, as proof that religious harmony is achievable and already in practice.
Read the statement below:
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AK/SSM
