Muslim Mission calls for Religious Freedom for Muslim Students in Mission Schools
By Daniel Donkor Ghana The Chairman of the Ghana Muslim Mission, Sheikh Dr Amin Bonsu, has called on mission schools across Ghana to respect the religious rights of Muslim students and allow them to freely observe their faith without coercion or discrimination. He expressed concern over what he described as recurring instances in which some […]
Sheikh Dr Amin Bonsu, Chairman of the Ghana Muslim Mission, has urged mission schools in Ghana to respect the religious rights of Muslim students and permit them to practice their faith without coercion or discrimination. He expressed worry over recurring instances where some mission schools allegedly prevent Muslim students from wearing the hijab and observing Islamic prayers.
One such incident allegedly took place at the Presbyterian Nursing and Midwifery Training School in Dormaa, Bono Region, where students were denied access to a designated prayer space. At a stakeholders' meeting in Sunyani, Sheikh Dr Bonsu presented the Ghana Muslim Mission's 10-year strategic development plan, which aims to build quality senior high schools and healthcare facilities in all 16 regions of Ghana.
He emphasized that the development goals are not solely aimed at improving Muslim welfare, but also to enhance their contribution to Ghana's socio-economic progress. Sheikh Dr Bonsu stressed that the pursuit of development should be coupled with protection of fundamental rights, specifically religious freedom. He cited the Dormaa incident as an example of how denying Muslim students access to places for prayer contradicts Ghana's tradition of religious tolerance.
He also questioned why similar concerns persist despite government directives promoting religious freedom and non-discrimination in educational and professional institutions. Sheikh Dr Bonsu praised peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Ghana as a national asset worth protecting, noting its historical harmony. He appealed for religious leaders, school authorities, parents, and the public to uphold this culture of tolerance, stressing that allowing students to practice their faith freely does not threaten harmony but promotes mutual respect among diverse faiths.
Dr Mussah Abdullahi, Head of Materials Engineering at Sunyani Technical University, called for turning the Mission's ambitious development plan into tangible action, with stronger commitment, strategic collaboration, and effective resource mobilization.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
