The Muslim Caucus in Parliament has met the leadership of the Methodist Church to resolve an issue in which a Muslim student enrolled at Wesley Girls’ SHS was restrained by the school authorities from observing the Ramadan fast.
An angry father, Ishmael Zakaria Alhassan, on Monday, 26 April 2021, stormed the school in Cape Coast to withdraw his daughter, Bushira Ishmael because she and other Muslim students were not permitted to observe the Ramadan fast.
Prior to the engagement between the school and the Muslim Caucus, there have been reports of students in second-cycle institutions being denied the opportunity to pray and wear the hijab on campus.
The delegation of Muslim parliamentarians, led by Asawase MP Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, who is also the Minority Chief Whip, also included Collins Dauda, Hassan Tampuli and Habib Iddrisu.
Some leaders from the Muslim community were also present.
Notable among them were representatives from office of National Chief Imam, Mallam Awal Shuaib; Ahlus Sunnah Waljamaa, Sheik Salman Mohammed Alhassan, the Executive Director of Baraka Policy Institute (BPI) Dr Haruna Zagoon Sayeed, Supt. Imam Hussein Abdul-Rahim of the Ghana Police Service, Islamic Affairs; and Secretary to the Muslim Caucus in Parliament Alhaji Inusah.
The Muslim delegateion engaged the Methodist team, which was led by Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, to discuss the issue.
Most Rev. Dr Boafo, who doubles as the Chairman of the Wesley Girls’ Senior High School Board, indicated that there will be a meeting in the coming days to amicably resolve the problem
“His Eminence the Presiding Bishop assured that the board of the school, of which he is the Chairman, will be meeting to discuss the issue and the concerns of the delegation and others will be graciously taken on board to amicably resolve the problem”, a statement issued by Mr Mubarak said.
“The church pledged to keep the delegation informed on the specific decision taken at the meeting regarding the resolution of the issue at stake,” the statement noted.
The Muslim Cuacus in Parliament, therefore, entreated “all Muslims to exercise self-restraint, as we are taught in the month of Ramadan, on the matter, and allow the able leadership of the Methodist Church to deal with the case in consultation with all relevant stakeholders”.
PRESS RELEASE ON THE WESLEY GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL MUSLIM STUDENTS FASTING CRISIS
The Muslim Caucus in Parliament wishes to show solidarity with the Muslim Ummah and the good people of Ghana who have expressed their concerns over the decision of Wesley Girls school management to disallow Muslim girls from observing the Ramadan fast.
In this regard a delegation of Muslim MPs and some leaders from the Muslim community met with the leadership of the Methodist Church to discuss the issue with the objective of resolving the problem amicably.
The Muslim delegation led by Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, MP for Asawase and Minority Chief Whip of Parliament of Ghana included Hon. Collins Dauda, Hon Hassan Tampuli, and Hon. Habib Iddrisu, representing the two political parties in parliament.
The others were representatives; from office of National Chief Imam, Mallam Awal Shuaib, Ahlus Sunnah Waljamaa, Sheik Salman Mohammed Alhassan, the Executive Director of Baraka Policy Institute (BPI) Dr Haruna Zagoon Sayeed, Supt Imam Hussein Abdul-Rahim of Ghana Police Service Islamic Affairs and Secretary to the Muslim Caucus in Parliament Alhaji Inusah.
The Methodist team was led by the national leader, the Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo.
After very frank and cordial discussions on the issue, the Church assured the Muslim delegation of their commitment to resolve the issue within a couple of days In Shaa Allah.
His Eminence the Presiding Bishop assured that the board of the school, of which he is the Chairman, will be meeting to discuss the issue and the concerns of the delegation and others will be graciously taken on board to amicably resolve the problem.
The church pledged to keep the delegation informed on the specific decision taken at the meeting regarding the resolution of the issue at stake. I
It is based on this and other related interventions that the Muslim Caucus in Parliament wishes to ask all Muslims to exercise self-restraint, as we are taught in the Month of Ramadan, on the matter and to allow the able leadership of the Methodist Church to deal with the case in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
The Muslim caucus and Muslim community leaders would like to thank the leadership of the Methodist Church led by the Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo for the warm reception accorded the team and the assurances given that the issue will be resolved amicably to reflect the usual inclusiveness of Methodist education in Ghana.
God bless us and God bless our homeland Ghana.
Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP)
FOR: Muslim Caucus in Parliament
