‘Ramadan fast is healthy’ – Islamic Medical Association berates Wesley Girls’ School

The Islamic Medical Association of Ghana (IMAGH) has hit hard at the management of Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast over the school’s refusal to allow Muslim students to observe the Holy Ramadan fast.

According to the group of Muslim health professionals, the directive by the school on grounds that fasting is unhealthy for the students does not only lack a scientific and medical basis but also unfounded.

In a statement, the Association heavily criticized the Methodist Church of Ghana and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for backing what they say is the school’s distorted position on the matter.

“This inaccurate assertion was made by these bodies in an attempt to justify the clear violations of the religious rights of Muslim students in Wesley Girls’ High school. As far as IMAGH is concerned, those claims are unfounded and lack any firm bases in science and medicine. These claims by the 3 bodies were made without any scientific proof”, the group said.

While admitting the exemptions for observing the fast, the Group emphatically stated that the Islamic type of intermittent fasting has enormous health benefits.

“It is important to state that Islamic fasting is comparatively moderate and cannot be considered as starvation. There is a clear scientific distinction between fasting and starvation. At no point within the 12-16-hour period of fasting is the person deprived of any essential nutrient.”

The Association further expressed worry about the danger of the situation and therefore called for broader stakeholder consultation to find an amicable solution to the impasse.

“IMAGH wishes to state that Ghana is a secular state which must promote inclusiveness. Public or government-assisted schools which seek to promote one religion over the other poses a risk to all of us and our future.”

“We need to be careful in taunting Muslims to build their own schools. If this is done, this has the potential of deepening religious segregation and divisiveness”, it added.

Click here for the full statement.