Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has warned that the argument of parental choice cannot be used to justify breaching constitutionally guaranteed religious rights in senior high schools (SHS).

Executive Director Kofi Asare, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, said the debate around religious freedom in mission schools must not be distorted by isolated incidents.

He noted that for decades, the majority of Ghana’s senior high schools have allowed students to freely practice their faith.

“The impression is being created by these statements and arguments that we are actually moving towards an era where we will no longer allow what we have allowed to happen for decades,” he said.

“This is a fundamental issue of the enjoyment of religious rights in mission schools.”

Asare explained that the Ghanaian Constitution and international frameworks guarantee religious freedom.

Two major principles govern the exercise of these rights: non-discrimination and non-compulsion.

“The principle of non-discrimination simply says that no person shall be treated differently because of their religion or religious beliefs, and everyone must enjoy equal rights when it comes to their access to their religious faith,” he said.

He pointed to Article 17 of the Constitution, which clearly prohibits discrimination on grounds including religion and guarantees freedom of religion.

The second principle, Asare said, is non-compulsion.

“The argument that I established a school to get you to attend and convert or buy into my religion, and then you allow someone to manifest their religion, flies in the face of the principle of non-compulsion,” he explained.

Addressing arguments raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference and the Christian Council that parents voluntarily choose schools for their children, Asare said choice cannot override constitutionally guaranteed rights.

“The power of choice cannot override constitutionally guaranteed rights. The principle of non-compulsion simply says that no one should be forced to practice another religion or stop practising their own religion,” he said.

“Whether you think you have the right to choice or not, the right to choice cannot override fundamental rights to freedom of religion, anchored on non-compulsion and non-discrimination.”

He concluded that treating students differently based on the school they attend would constitute discrimination and violate their religious freedoms.