Our Christian leaders Goofed

The official marginalisation of minority groups, especially religious minority groups, is the last thing any progressive society should allow to happen.

Respectfully, our Christian leaders goofed. As an official document, that press statement by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana legitimises the marginalisation of Muslims in Christian mission schools.

Advancing the position that ‘if you come to Rome, do what Romans do, and if you can not, do not come to Rome, as you are free to choose to go elsewhere’ suggests hostility, segregation and intolerance, even though it may be regarded as a valid argument.

These two Christian leadership organisations, even though religious in nature, have a sociopolitical role in our society.

It was therefore politically incorrect of them to have situated their position on the matter in the manner they did, especially considering the provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding on Government-Assisted Mission Schools signed on 15th April, 2024 and validated by the Ghana Education Service on 11th April, 2025, that indicate some agreements reached on common grounds by all stakeholders.

Imagine a society where Christians and Muslims never integrate in a formal education setting from basic to tertiary levels because there is zero tolerance for Muslims practising their faith in Christian mission schools and vice versa.

As a result, each of the religions has its own mission schools at all levels, and schools are chosen based on the religion that founded the school, which will tolerate religious beliefs and practices.

Is this the kind of society we want for Ghana?

Regarding the sensitivity of public discourse on religious matters, particularly, its potential to elicit emotive and inflammatory reactions, this position should not have come from the two most prominent national Christian leadership organisations in Ghana.

The statement is in bad taste as it has the potential of derailing the gains Ghana has made all these years from upholding religious freedoms, integration and tolerance, especially among Christians and Muslims. By that statement, our Christian leaders risk being on the wrong side of history.

Is common ground too hard and impossible to find?

In conclusion, I believe that it is possible to have a constructive dialogue among all stakeholders to ensure that a common ground is reached so we can have religious freedom, integration and tolerance in both Christian and Muslim mission schools.