Ghana News

Mahama Breaks Silence on Wesley Girls Muslim Row: ‘Respect Religious Diversity’

Published

4 months ago

December 11, 2025

In a nation where faith shapes daily life, a simmering dispute at one of Ghana’s premier schools has thrust religious freedoms into the national spotlight.

President John Dramani Mahama stepped into the fray on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, calling on mission school authorities to honor their commitments to inclusivity, as a landmark Supreme Court case challenges long-standing practices at Wesley Girls Senior High School.

The controversy erupted when Shafic Osman, a concerned citizen, filed a lawsuit against the Methodist-affiliated institution, alleging it has systematically curtailed the religious rights of Muslim students.

Osman claims the school bars them from performing Friday Jumu’ah prayers and compels attendance at Christian chapel services—actions he argues violate Article 26 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and belief.

For families like those of the affected students, many from humble backgrounds who view Wesley Girls as a gateway to brighter futures, the suit isn’t just legal wrangling but a plea for equity in education, where a girl’s hijab or prayer mat shouldn’t bar her from excellence.

The Supreme Court, in a directive last month, ordered the school to file a formal response, amplifying what began as a campus grievance into a broader debate on how Ghana’s 33 government-assisted mission schools—rooted in colonial-era partnerships—navigate diversity in a country where Christians and Muslims each claim about 40% of the population. Critics, including human rights advocates, point to similar tensions at schools like Achimota, where dreadlocked Rastafarian students faced admission hurdles until a 2021 court ruling affirmed their rights. Supporters of the schools counter that their faith-based ethos, preserved through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the government, demands a baseline respect for Christian traditions.

Enter Mahama, speaking during a closed-door meeting with the National Peace Council on December 10. The President, whose own National Democratic Congress (NDC) has long championed secular governance, struck a tone of quiet authority, urging all sides to revisit the very agreements designed to prevent such clashes.

“There is a matter before the Supreme Court which is yet to be determined,” he said. “If you read what the faith-based organisations agreed in their own MoU, I don’t see any point of dispute. They all accept that if there is a mission school, it has its faith orientation, but within that faith orientation there must be recognition of diversity. It is right there in the MoU. I don’t want to suggest it but I think the Supreme Court has its work cut out for it because the same people signed that MoU, so I don’t see what the contention there is.”

Mahama’s intervention comes at a delicate juncture.

Osman seeks not only a declaration of constitutional breach but also a mandate for the Ghana Education Service to craft nationwide guidelines ensuring religious observance aligns with the law. As the court weighs in—potentially by mid-2026—the stakes ripple beyond one school’s chapel. For Ghana’s youth, who make up 57% of the population, this case tests whether education can be a unifying force or a fault line in a democracy that prides itself on peaceful coexistence.

Mahama’s words cut through the noise. His wise words is a reminder that pacts inked in boardrooms must breathe in classrooms.

Mission schools have produced giants like former President John Kufuor and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan, but their legacy falters if they exclude the very diversity fueling Ghana’s vibrancy.

The Peace Council has welcomed Mahama’s call, pledging to facilitate dialogues between school heads, faith leaders, and parents.

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Ghana News

US Requires Ghanaian Visa Applicants to Make All Social Media Profiles ‘Public’ for Vetting

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GNG Staff

Accra, Ghana – Ghanaians applying for various categories of US visas must now make all their social media accounts public, the United States Embassy has announced in a new requirement that is being rolled out globally.

The policy, which took effect immediately, affects a wide range of non-immigrant visas including A-3, C-3, G-5, H-3, H-4 (dependents), K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visas. Applicants are required to adjust the privacy settings of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and others to “public” to allow US consular officers to review their online activity as part of the security and admissibility vetting process.

The move is designed to help establish the applicant’s true identity, intentions, and potential security risks before granting entry into the United States. While the directive was first highlighted by the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, it is now being implemented at US embassies and consulates worldwide, including in Ghana.

Bawumia Accuses Mahama Govt of Attacking Democracy, Otumfuo Warns Politicians and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

Implications for Ghanaian Applicants

For many Ghanaians seeking to visit, study, work, or join family members in America, the new rule adds another layer of scrutiny to the already rigorous US visa application process.

Privacy-conscious applicants may need to temporarily adjust or archive private content before submitting their applications.

US visa officials will now have broader access to posts, comments, photos, friends lists, and online associations.

This development comes amid heightened global security concerns and reflects the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on stricter immigration vetting. Ghanaian travellers are advised to review their social media presence carefully and ensure consistency between their online profiles and visa application details to avoid delays or refusals.

Ghana News

Bawumia Accuses Mahama Govt of Attacking Democracy, Otumfuo Warns Politicians and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

Published

12 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GNG Staff

We have curated the most relevant stories in Ghana today to keep you informed.

Bawumia Claims Ghana’s Democracy Under Attack and Free Speech Sacrificed Under Mahama Govt
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly accused President John Dramani Mahama’s government of undermining Ghana’s democratic credentials by suppressing free speech and using state security agencies to intimidate political opponents. Speaking on April 18, 2026, during a visit by Bono Region NPP executives, Bawumia described the situation as a threat to the country’s democratic gains and urged party members to remain outspoken. The former Vice President’s comments followed the arrest and detention of NPP member Abubakar Yakubu (Baba Amando), with the party planning a major demonstration in Sunyani on April 22 under the theme “Yensuro Ahunahuna Demo” to protest what it calls attacks on free speech.
Read the full story here

Akonta Mining: Court Gives Wontumi Final Chance to File Witness Statement
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has granted Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) a final opportunity to file his witness statements in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey set May 5, 2026, as the new deadline after Wontumi missed the previous April 14 cut-off. The ruling came during a case management conference on April 20, despite defence requests for adjournment pending an appeal. Wontumi faces charges related to unauthorised mining activities on his concession in Samreboi.
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BOST to Lose GH¢40m from Suspended Fuel Margins – Deputy MD
The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) stands to lose nearly GH¢40 million in April alone due to the government’s suspension of the BOST margin on diesel. Deputy Managing Director Nat Salifu Acheampong warned that the move threatens critical infrastructure projects, including the upgrade of the Accra-Akosombo pipeline from 6 inches to 12 inches. While the margin on petrol remains, he appealed to Parliament to restore the diesel margin once the current fuel price relief measures end, stressing that the funds support national strategic fuel reserves.
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Power is Transient – Otumfuo Warns Politicians to Stay Out of Chieftaincy Matters
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned politicians to refrain from interfering in chieftaincy affairs, reminding them that power is transient. The warning, delivered at the Asanteman Council meeting, underscores the Asantehene’s firm stance on preserving the independence and integrity of traditional institutions from political influence.
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‘You Are All Thieves!’ – Woman Slams Methodist Pastors and Elders Over Tithe Policy
A female member of the Wesley Cathedral Methodist Church in Sunyani caused a stir when she publicly described the pastor and elders as “thieves” during a church service. She criticised an alleged policy tying welfare support (especially during funerals) to tithe payment, arguing it was unfair and discouraging membership. The dramatic confrontation, which has gone viral, has sparked widespread debate on church finances and member support.
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Explainer: Why Asantehene Destooled Kyeame Kofi Nti
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled his linguist (Kyeame) Kofi Nti following deliberations by the Asanteman Council. The removal was based on serious allegations including doubts over his royal lineage, improper handling and failure to report invocations of the sacred Otumfuo Ntam Kɛseɛ oath, and interference in chieftaincy processes. The decision highlights the high standards of accountability expected in Asante traditional offices.
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GES Announces Instalment Plan to Clear Teachers’ Salary Arrears
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revealed that the government will pay outstanding salary arrears to newly recruited teachers under the 2024 financial clearance in instalments from May to August 2026. Four months’ arrears will be disbursed monthly to ensure accuracy and transparency. The move brings relief to teachers whose payments were delayed after reporting to post.
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