School authorities across the Central Region have been warned to stop letting churches and other religious groups use public classrooms for worship without official permission.
The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, issued the directive during a commissioning ceremony in Cape Coast, warning that the unregulated practice risks damaging educational infrastructure through overuse and poor maintenance.
Acknowledging the cultural role of religion in Ghanaian society, Mr Eduamoah noted that while a total ban remains difficult to enforce, strict regulation has become essential.
“As much as practical, let’s stop that. Let’s not allow people to use it for such purposes. There are instances where you have to say no,” he said.
Under the new guidelines, religious bodies seeking to use school premises must formally submit requests to the relevant authorities for evaluation before access is granted, rather than making informal arrangements with school staff.
“It shouldn’t be just that I want to worship somewhere so I’ll just go to the head teacher and say that we need a classroom. That should not be allowed. They need permission, and when we invite the permission, the kind of request you are making and we think it’s right, then we give you the opportunity,” the minister added.
The warning was delivered as the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly commissioned new nine-unit, three-unit, and kindergarten classroom blocks across selected local schools.
Funded through the District Assemblies Common Fund, the new facilities aim to improve learning conditions and provide reliable shelter for pupils during the rainy season.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
