Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has launched a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Managing Religious Diversity in Mission Schools, marking a milestone in the country’s journey towards fostering peace, inclusivity, and harmony in educational institutions in Accra.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister emphasized the critical role of religious freedom in fostering a cohesive society, praising the long-standing partnership between the Government and religious mission schools, which have been instrumental in shaping the nation’s intellectual, moral, and cultural landscape. “These schools have produced generations of leaders who embody integrity, discipline, and service,” he noted.
Hon. Muntaka described the MOU as a clarion call to uphold inclusivity, fairness, and respect, urging stakeholders to raise awareness and implement its guidelines effectively. He called on religious leaders, educators, parents, and students to embrace the MOU as a shared responsibility, emphasizing that mission schools should inspire hope, unity, and academic excellence while celebrating Ghana’s rich diversity.
The Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Clement Apaak, called for inclusivity in schools, noting that Ghana’s educational system has become more inclusive, necessitating the instilling of values that shape responsible leaders. He affirmed the commitment of the Education Ministry to the implementation of the MOU and called for collective action to create an enabling environment for all.
The Chairman of the National Peace Council’s Governing Board, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, commended Government’s commitment to religious tolerance and inclusivity. He called for a unified effort to promote peace and social cohesion and urged stakeholders to ensure that mission schools remain models of harmony and excellence.
The MOU, developed by the Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU) with support from the National Peace Council (NPC) and validated in April 2024, was signed by the religious missions and endorsed by the Ghana Education Service.
It provides a national framework to manage religious diversity, ensuring that mission schools remain inclusive spaces where students, teachers, and stakeholders are valued regardless of their religious beliefs.