ASWAJ deputy national Imam Sheikh Kamil rejects suspension
Accra: Sheikh Mohammed Kamil Mohammed, the first deputy national imam of the Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a (ASWAJ) in Ghana, has formally rejected his purported suspension, describing the disciplinary process that led to the decision as unconstitutional and without legal effect.
In a letter dated July 28, 2026, written by his solicitor, Mr Hans E. Kofiadde, and addressed to the National Imam, Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam, the deputy national imam said he would continue to perform his constitutional duties while reserving the right to pursue legal and constitutional remedies.
The letter was issued in response to a July 16 communication conveying the outcome of an enquiry into the Eid-ul-Adha incident of March 27, 2026, in which the ASWAJ Disciplinary and Arbitration Committee reportedly recommended sanctions against him.
The solicitor said his client “utterly repulses and outrightly rejects” the suspension, arguing that it had been orchestrated by what he described as an “unwieldy ‘kangaroo’ committee” that had “empowered itself, albeit unconstitutionally, to have a non-existent, self-acclaimed jurisdiction”.
According to the lawyer, the disciplinary action sought to portray Sheikh Kamil as “an errant, irresponsible and violent personality who is vulgar and unyielding”, a characterisation he said was “unfortunate and regrettable”.
The letter further rejected allegations that Sheikh Kamil had made false, derogatory and misleading public statements against the National Imam.
“Our client vehemently denies each and every alphabet of your otherwise false and malicious allegations, the obvious purpose of which is to supplant him in favour of your unelected shadow inner cabinet,” the solicitor wrote.
The lawyer also challenged the committee’s demand that Sheikh Kamil render an unqualified apology to the National Imam and the worldwide membership of ASWAJ.
Describing the directive as unreasonable, the solicitor said the committee was “demanding an unqualified apology from our client… for no offence whatsoever, a demand which traverses all boundaries of reasonableness.”
The response further questioned the constitutional basis for the committee’s actions, maintaining that the purported suspension had no legal or administrative validity.
“Our client reiterates that he did not commit any offence related to the Eid Adha celebration of 27th March, 2026, and so you and your overzealous committee would have no cause of action against him,” the letter stated.
The solicitor further alleged that an independent investigation into the Eid incident would produce different findings.
“Indeed, if there were an independent, level-headed commission to investigate the events… all fingers would point in only one direction – the national imam and his motley band of proven troubleshooters,” the letter claimed.
The letter also referred to the intervention of the Ghana Police Service during the Eid celebrations, arguing that it emphasised the necessity of introspection by the National Imam and his supporters.
It alleged that “except for the timely intervention of Ghana Police… your architects of chaos would have caused unimaginable mayhem to the ignominy of the entire Ahlussunna wal Jama’a.”
On his status within the organisation, Sheikh Kamil maintained that he remained the constitutionally elected First Deputy National Imam and would continue to discharge his responsibilities.
“Our client would not step aside from his duties as the duly elected First Deputy National Imam… until otherwise decreed per the 2025 Amended Constitution of ASWAJ or by the cause of nature in the hands of Allah,” the solicitor wrote.
The letter, however, indicated that Sheikh Kamil remained committed to reconciliation and urged the withdrawal of the suspension letter to create room for dialogue.
“While our client remains fully engaged in the performance of his constitutionally delineated duties… it is in the spirit of mutual respect, peace, solidarity and reconciliation that you would have long withdrawn this offensive, illegal and polemically charged and misguided letter,” it said.
The solicitor concluded by stating that the response was “without prejudice” to any legal avenues available to Sheikh Kamil to protect his rights and his elected office.
The latest development adds another chapter to the deepening leadership dispute within ASWAJ, which stems from disagreements over the Eid-ul-Adha prayers and has since evolved into competing claims over constitutional authority, disciplinary powers and the legitimacy of the sect’s leadership.
The National Executive Committee has previously maintained that it lawfully adopted the recommendations of its Disciplinary and Arbitration Committee, while a group of regional imams has publicly rejected the committee’s actions, arguing that they are inconsistent with the ASWAJ Constitution.
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