TYRON MARHGUY V. BOARD OF GOVERNORS ACHIMOTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: A COMMENTARY

https://doi.org/10.47963/ucclj.v4i2.1725

Authors

  • Idowu A Akinloye Osun State University
  • Maruf Adeniyi Nasir Osun State University

Keywords:

ACHIMOTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, GOVERNORS, TYRON MARHGUY

Abstract

This comment is a reflection on the 2021 Ghanaian case of Tyron Marhguy v. Board of Governors Achimota Senior High School and Anor (hereafter, Marhguy) and brings to the fore the Ghanaian judicial standpoint on the enforcement of the right to freedom of religion and belief. In the case, the Applicant successfully contested the violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of religion and belief. Jurisprudentially, Marhguy is phenomenal, being a locus classicus setting out the judicial approval to the constitutional protection of religious liberty in Ghana. More importantly, Ghana is a country with constitutional democracy and religious pluralism, and the effect of the case may ultimately shape religion-state relations in the country. Expectedly, given the religiosity of Ghanaians, the court decision elicited much public commentary and debate; but as significant as the case, there has not been much legal and academic discourse on it. The issues that resonated in the case touch on constitutionally guaranteed human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and belief, the right to education, and the right to human dignity. However, the focus of this commentary is limited to the issues concerning the right to freedom of religion. Thus, after a summary of the facts of the case and the decision of the court, this discussion primarily evaluates only the issues

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Author Biographies

Idowu A Akinloye, Osun State University

Senior Lecturer,
Faculty of Law,
Osun State University (Ifetedo Campus)
Nigeria.
Email:   idakinloye@gmail.com

Maruf Adeniyi Nasir, Osun State University

Ag Dean,
Faculty of Law,
Osun State University (Ifetedo Campus) Nigeria

References

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STATUTES

African [Banjul] Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted June 27, 1981, OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982), entered into force Oct. 21, 1986.

Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (General Assembly Resolution 36/55 of November 1981).

CASE LAW

Achene v Raji (Casebook on the Rights of Women in Ghana, 1959-2005) 289

Alhasuna Muslim Faith v. Regional Police Commander, Bolgatanga 1994-2000] CHRAJ 191.

Ariovi v Elemo (1983) JELR 49375 (SC)

Department of Correctional Services & Another v. Police and Prisons Civil Rights and 5 Ors (2013) ZASCA 40.

Dzova v. Minister of Education, Sports and Culture and Ors (2007) AHRLR 189; (ZWSC 2007).

JWM (Alias P) v. Board of Management High School & 2 Ors (2019) EKLR.

Lagos State Govt. and Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem (Suit No.: SC 910/2016).

Lagos State Govt. and Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem (Suit No.: SC 910/2016).

MEC for Education, KwaZulu-Natal v Pillay 2008 (1) SA 474 (CC).

MEC for Education, KwaZulu-Natal v Pillay para 58. (Civil Appeal No. 173 of 2020).

Phillip Okoth and LSK v BOM, St Anne’s Primary Ahero [2023] (Civil Appeal No. 173 of 2020)

Phillip Okoth and LSK v BOM, St Anne’s Primary Ahero pp. 21, 25-26.

Raphael Cubagee v. Michael Yeboah Asare and 2 Orthers (Ref. No. 16/04/2017)

Seventh Day Adventist Church (East Africa) Limited v Minister for Education & 3 others [2017] KECA 751 (KLR).

The Provost, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin & 2 Ors vs. Bashirat Saliu & 2 Ors (Appeal No. CA/IL/49/2006).);

The Republic v. Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and 4 Ors (Ref. No. J1/06/2018).

Tyron Marhguy v. Board of Governors Achimota Senior High School and Anor (Suit No. HR/0055/2021) (2021) JELR 107192 (HC).

Published

2025-03-01

How to Cite

Akinloye, I. A. A., & Nasir, M. A. N. (2025). TYRON MARHGUY V. BOARD OF GOVERNORS ACHIMOTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: A COMMENTARY. UCC Law Journal, 4(2), 264–282. https://doi.org/10.47963/ucclj.v4i2.1725