Attorney General Defends Wesley Girls’ SHS in Hijab and Religious Rights Suit
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has filed a formal response to a lawsuit challenging what the plaintiffs describe as discriminatory religious practices at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School (SHS).
The legal action, initiated on 24 December 2024 by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, invokes the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction under Articles 2(1)(b) and 130(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution. The suit argues that the school imposes unlawful restrictions on Muslim students, including alleged bans on wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, and observing other Islamic practices. The plaintiffs contend that these policies infringe on constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion and belief.
In his response, the Attorney General rejects claims that the school’s rules violate the law. He maintains that Wesley Girls’ SHS, founded and operated by the Methodist Church of Ghana, is entitled to uphold standards consistent with its Methodist values and identity. The AG argues that as a faith-based educational institution, the school may establish conduct guidelines that reflect its religious doctrine even where such rules limit the expression of other faiths on campus.
