Catholic Bishops Criticise Haruna Iddrisu Over Comments on Religious Rights in Schools
Bishops say recent comments by Haruna Iddrisu risk reopening tensions already resolved through a national MoU on religious tolerance.
- Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference says religious issues in schools were already settled through a national MoU.
- Bishops accuse Haruna Iddrisu of unnecessarily reviving an old debate
- They insist mission schools must operate by their founding values while respecting minority faiths
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has strongly criticized recent remarks by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, describing his comments on students’ religious rights as needless and potentially divisive.
According to the Bishops, the Minister’s warning to schools not to infringe on pupils’ freedom of worship risks reopening old tensions that religious leaders had already resolved through consensus and dialogue.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Mr. Iddrisu cautioned that no student should be denied the right to practise their chosen religion, stressing that government would not tolerate any violations of religious freedom in schools.
His statement followed a directive from the Supreme Court ordering Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond to claims that Muslim students are restricted from fully observing their faith. The allegations stem from a lawsuit filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman.
However, in an interview with Citi News, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, said all major religious bodies—including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, SDAs, and even the Police Service—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) just three months ago to regulate religious tolerance in schools.
“It is very unfortunate. We don’t understand why the Minister is reviving issues that were already settled. Barely three months ago, religious bodies signed an MoU on religious tolerance. Even the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service appended his signature to guide the reopening of schools,” he said.
Most Rev. Gyamfi explained that the MoU allows faith-based schools to operate according to their founding values and philosophy, while ensuring that students of minority religions are not discriminated against and are given reasonable space to practise their faith.
“If parents choose a Catholic school, they must understand the ethos that governs it. Catholics cannot abandon their principles so that every religion is practised without order. Likewise, if a Catholic child attends a Muslim or Presbyterian school, that child must respect the rules there. Otherwise, schools will become ungovernable,” he stressed.
He expressed surprise that the Minister would reignite a debate that had already been resolved through consensus among religious leaders.
“I am a little surprised he went back to Parliament to make those statements. I don’t know what he hoped to achieve, apart from reopening misunderstandings or stirring religious tensions. Politicians must be careful not to use religion to create problems for the country. We already have enough challenges,” he warned.
The Bishops reiterated their full commitment to the MoU and insisted that the agreed framework remains binding.
“For us, nothing will change. What we agreed on is what will guide our schools. So why bring this matter back again?” he asked.
They maintain that the existing agreement adequately addresses all concerns and should continue to guide stakeholders going forward.
