Accra: Sheikh Hajj Umar Ibrahim, the National Imam of Ahlussunnah Wal Jama’a (ASWAJ) Ghana, says he does not recognise Sheikh Kamil Mohammed Kamil as his first national deputy Imam despite him being elected at the recently held 16th National Representative Congress.

According to him, the congress took place without his permission and so lacked the requisite approval of the national Imam, who is the de facto leader of the Muslim sectarian organisation.

This is the fourth time the national imam has rejected the election of Sheikh Kamil, who had served as the second national deputy of ASWAJ Ghana.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, the National Imam, in a statement read on his behalf, accused Sheikh Kamil of failing to account for funds that were raised in 2018 to help complete the national headquarters building project.

Based on the developments, he has, among other things, ordered that there shall be no national gathering of ASWAJ without full knowledge and prior approval of the national Imam.

Also, he said no bank accounts shall be opened in the name of the Muslim organisation without approval of the national headquarters, and no funds shall be in custody of individuals or groups without approval of the national headquarters.

“Any such funds must be audited and accounted for and returned to the headquarters immediately,” he said.

He warned that anybody found to be in breach of the constitutional provisions of the organisation and failing to comply with the directives would be disqualified from holding positions of trust within the organisation.

“Monies or properties of the Ummah will never be kept in somebody’s pocket or private account of any member or group of members,” he added.

It would be recalled in November 2023 that the ASWAJ national Imam, Hajj Umar Ibrahim, granted an interview registering his displeasure with attempts to make Sheikh Kamil the first deputy Imam.

He disclosed in the interview that he had on three occasions rejected the elevation of Sheikh Kamil from the position of second deputy national imam to the first deputy national imam.

In December 2023, the National Dawah Council held a press conference in Tamale to address allegations of withholding assets and failing to render account to the ASWAJ headquarters.

According to the Secretary of the Council, Sheikh Suleiman Muzu, members of the Council decided to invest the monies into profit-yielding ventures instead of releasing the funds directly to the national ASWAJ headquarters.

It remains unclear whether the constitutional amendments that were made at the congress will hold since the event has been declared as unlawful by the national Imam.