The National Peace Council has instructed public school in the country not to compel students of a different religion to attend devotion or participate in any act of worship without their consent.
This was contained in the communiqué issued after a national stakeholder’s forum on religious tolerance convened by the Council.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference earlier defended its stance in support of the continuation of compulsory morning devotion in Catholic Schools and advised students who cannot abide by the rules to “go somewhere else.”
According to the Conference, the students, including Muslims, who go to Christian schools are aware of the school’s practices, accept the conditions before they are admitted and, as a result, have no grounds for complaint.
However the Peace Council at a forum held on Tuesday watered down claims by the Conference and asked public schools not to compel students of a different religion to participate in acts of worship.
“Taking into consideration the provisions of the constitution on human rights, no public school shall require students who are followers of a different religion to participate in acts of worship, devotion or fellowship without their concerns or the concern of their parents;this is without prejudice to the general assembly which precede daily school activity,” the Council said.