The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has issued a strong call to government authorities to restore the mutual respect and collaboration that once anchored the management of mission schools in the country, warning that the historic church-state partnership is being systematically undermined.
At the 25th anniversary celebration of Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Senior High School in Tema, the Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Kobina Louis, sounded the alarm over what he described as a deliberate erosion of the Church’s role in education.
He expressed grave concern that mission schools, particularly those established and nurtured by the Catholic Church, are increasingly being treated as fully state-owned, with local authorities sidelining the founding religious institutions that have long been responsible for their existence and moral vision.
Bishop Louis stressed that Catholic schools were founded to instill discipline, faith, and strong moral values—core tenets that have significantly contributed to the formation of responsible citizens and national development. That legacy, he warned, is now at risk.
“The weakening of this partnership could ultimately undermine the quality of values-based education that has played a vital role in Ghana’s development,” he stated, urging the government to respect the Catholic Church’s foundational role and preserve its involvement in school administration.
He further lamented what he described as a “disturbing” development: the denial of admission to Catholic students in Catholic schools. He said such practices contradict the original mission and purpose of these institutions, which were established to nurture both the spiritual and academic growth of Catholic youth and other students within a values-driven environment.
Joining the chorus of concern, Headmaster of OLAM SHS, Mr. Peter Obeng Tweneboah, outlined a series of challenges facing the school and called for immediate government intervention. He noted that the school is grappling with critical infrastructure deficits and administrative difficulties that require urgent attention if OLAM is to continue delivering quality education.
The Bishops’ Conference is urging the state to reaffirm its commitment to the original framework that governed mission schools—a model built on trust, mutual responsibility, and a shared vision for nation-building through education. Without this, the Conference fears the unique identity of Catholic education in Ghana may be lost.
