From the Executive Desk

PRESS RELEASE BY WGHS OLD GIRLS' ASSOCIATION ON FASTING IN THE SCHOOL - 5th May 2021

The Wesley Girls' High School Old Girls' Association (WGHS OGA) would like to endorse the position adopted by the Methodist Church, Ghana on the recent press release issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) concerning fasting by students of the school

The WGHS OGA emphasizes its commitment to upholding the time tested traditions of the school that aim to maintain high academic standards and discipline. It is our observation that over the years our school has opened it doors to students of different faiths including Muslims without any issues.

As key stakeholders of the school, the OGA will not in its effort to ensure the School's values are sustained at all times. The current rules, regulations and policies of the School have successfully guaranteed the excellent academic standards that have resulted in the School producing high quality individuals and citizens occupying key positions in the country and the world at large thereby contributing significantly to global advancement .

We are concerned that the school's "NO FASTING' policy which is based on health implication is being mischievously misrepresented to portray WGHS as an institution that is anti-Muslim and discriminatory of other faiths. the Policy is borne out of past experiences where some girls undergoing fasting for various reasons , put their lives at risk and almost died which traumatized their fellow students as well as the school administration resulting in the institution of this rule.

The rule applies to all students no matter their religious persuasions. The OGA will continue to support the Headmistress, the Board and all authorities of the school to enforce rules and regulations that seek to serve the purpose of instilling discipline and supporting the holistic upbringing of of students.

Concerning the specific issue of a student who was not permitted to fast in accordance with the school rules, and ensuing media coverage, the OGA is aware that good journalistic require that in reportage, all sides of an issue are presented and we therefore consider it quite unacceptable that till date only the one sided version of the event has been widely disseminated without inclusion of the position of the school authorities.

The OGA is deeply concerned that on the day in question, if a media interview was granted on the school premises, no effort was made to ascertain and follow the School's laid down procedure for media engagement and other such visits to the schools compound. The media, the parents and the student totally disregarded the need to follow procedure. Hence the entire interview was conducted on the blind side of the school authorities.

The OGA objects to any attempt to create disaffection for the school neither will the OGA accept any acts that could result in compromising to rules, polices and practices that have contributed towards shaping the high caliber of its products for the past 186 years that the school has been in existence.

Finally the OGA enjoins all it members: young, old and ancient to lift high the motto of the school 'LIVE PURE, SPEAK TRUE, RIGHT WRONG , FOLLOW THE KING'

---