Be Calm, We’ll Resolve Wesley Girls Fasting Brouhaha – Chief Imam

The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, has called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to fast-track processes to find an amicable solution to the rift between the Muslim community and authorities of the Wesley Girls’ High School. The Chief Imam says bringing finality to the matter will help defuse tensions.

Authorities of the Wesley Girls’ High School have come under fire for not allowing Muslim students to fast during the Ramadan period.

Speaking at this year’s Eid ul-Fitr celebration on Thursday, May 13, 2021, the National Chief Imam, through his spokesperson, Sheikh Arimiyaw Shaibu, said his outfit is ready to cooperate in the matter. According to him, peace is always the first option to the National Chief Imam in matters of national interest.

“Our first choice all the time is peace, and we will cooperate in any step and measures taken by all stakeholders and state authorities to bring finality to the misunderstanding.”

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has charged all actors in the misunderstanding to let cool heads prevail. The president said educational institutions should not be a place to settle religious scores.

According to him, the schools are the first place for young people to socialize and learn more about each other’s religious beliefs, dance, languages, and food.

“We should be proud that our national Constitution simply reinforces these characteristics, and it should, therefore, be easy for us to uphold these basic and fundamental tenets that hold us together. The boarding schools in our country have traditionally served as the training grounds in learning about each other, about tolerance and losing the fear of the unknown. That is where young Ghanaians learn to eat each other’s food, that is where they learn songs and dances of the different parts of the country and also where they learn about each other’s religion and a place where lifelong friendships are forged.”

“Throughout the years, the schools have by and large managed to find a reasonable, balanced atmosphere to enable our young people to flourish and this has served us well. The schools have evolved and adapted their practices to suit the times and I would urge that we do not turn them into the place to fight ideological battles.”

President Akufo-Addo made the call on Thursday, May 13, 2021, when he also spoke at Eid ul-Fitr celebration.