Methodist Church Ghana vows to take necessary action to protect church’s interest in Wesley Girls’ Supreme Court case
The Methodist Church of Ghana says it is preparing to take all necessary legal steps to protect its interests in the ongoing Supreme Court case involving Wesley Girls’ High School (WGHS), insisting the institution has never engaged in religious discrimination.
In a press statement, the Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson K. Asamoah-Gyadu, said the Church is moving swiftly to obtain the official records of the suit “to enable our legal team to take the necessary action to protect the Church’s interests.”
The case, filed by a Muslim applicant, accuses WGHS of discriminatory religious practices, a claim the Church rejects outright.
The Methodist Church stressed that the allegations contradict the school’s nearly two-century tradition of openness. For 189 years, it said, WGHS has welcomed students from a wide variety of religious backgrounds.
“Over the years, WGHS has educated Methodists, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Eckists, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics, Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Pentecostals and many others who have gone on to contribute meaningfully to society,” the statement noted.
Reaffirming its position, the Church emphasised that discrimination is incompatible with its identity and mission. “The Methodist Church Ghana considers discrimination to be fundamentally inconsistent with Christian teaching, and therefore incompatible with our mission,” it stated.
The Church explained that WGHS’s traditions and unified structure are designed to uphold fairness, cohesion and order. It cautioned that creating separate systems of living and worship for different faiths would “inevitably lead to segregation and undermine the cohesion and collective traditions of the school.”
It added that students are only required to respect established norms that promote unity, discipline and academic excellence. The Church insisted its approach is constitutional, stating: “We recognise and respect the constitutional right of every student to practice her faith or non-faith within the framework of WGHS traditions.”
Reassuring the public, the Church said its “treasured Wesleyan heritage admits of no discrimination whatsoever” and that it continues to uphold the mission “dating as far back as 1835.”
With the Supreme Court now set to address the matter, the Methodist Church says its commitment is unwavering, both in defending its interest and preserving harmony among all faiths.
“The Methodist Church Ghana remains committed to dialogue and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to ensure peace, understanding, and mutual respect among all faiths and traditions,” it concluded.
