NPP calls for cool heads in Wesley Girls impasse

The governing New Patriotic party has urged the leadership of the Methodist Church, Ghana, and the Muslim community to resort to constructive dialogue and engagement in solving the issue that recently showed up at the Wesley Girls’ Senior High School.

Muslim students of the school were denied the opportunity to fast during this year’s Ramadan fast which ended yesterday.

According to the school authorities, fasting by students is against their rules, based on medical reasons. The Methodist Church, Ghana, founders of the school, supported the decision taken by the school authorities.

However, the decision did not go down well with the Muslim community in the country.

But in a statement signed by NPP’s General Secretary, John Boadu, the party admonished both sides to use available dialogue channels to handle the situation.

“The NPP also wishes to use this occasion to appeal to religious sects in the country, particularly the Methodist church and the Muslim community, to continue to resort to constructive engagements and dialogue as the only means of finding amicable solution to the Wesley Girls debacle, which, by far, is threatening the age-long religious harmony and peaceful coexistence between the two dominant religions in the country,” it said.

Commendation

Meanwhile, the party has congratulated Muslims on their successful completion of their 30-day long Ramadan fast. The party also used the opportunity to wish them a happy Eid Mubarak.

It further called on Muslims living in Ghana to use the occasion of Eid to pray for leaders and the citizens of the country to overcome the ills plaguing the society, including the Covid-19.

The party urged the Muslims to celebrate in moderation, bearing in mind the existence of the Covid-19.

“Unfortunately, this year’s Ramadan, like last year’s, was not observed with the usual buzz and traditional activities associated with this important religious festivity because of Covid.

“It is however refreshing to observe that, unlike last year, the Covid restrictions are relatively relaxed during the 2021 Ramadan allowing Muslims to observe these religious acts including congregational prayers such as iftar, tarawih and tahajjud subject to the existing protocols,” it Noted.

The party also commended Muslims for strictly adhering to the Covid health protocols throughout the Ramadan period.