Glowing tributes pour for late Dagomba chief as Chief Imam leads prayers
Accra: Glowing tributes have been paid to Sheikh Al-Hajj Abdul Qadir Tahir, the late chief of the Dagomba community in Greater Accra, for his decades of service to humanity, promotion of peace and commitment to the welfare of vulnerable people.
The tributes were delivered at the seventh-day Adua (prayers) held in his honour after his burial, with the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, leading the Muslim community in prayers for the repose of his soul.
Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious affairs, Mahama Ayariga, former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, members of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, the deceased’s family and other dignitaries described him as a compassionate traditional leader whose influence transcended ethnic, religious and political boundaries.
The minister, representing President John Mahama, said the late chief had a positive influence on the Zongo youth.
He recalled the chief playing a significant role in quelling a riot that broke out in the aftermath of the May 9 disaster due to the sheer number of Zongo youth who died in the Accra Sports Stadium disaster.
The minister said he had no doubt the late Dagomba Chief was influential in the peace agenda championed by the Chief Imam over the years due to how close the two were.
“Anytime I attend a programme and see the Chief Imam, I know Sheikh Qadir is nearby,” he said.
Dr Bawumia, who described the late chief as a father, chief and imam, said his life was characterised by service to others and a commitment to peaceful coexistence.
“He was a man of peace,” he said, urging the community to uphold the values of unity and peaceful coexistence that the late chief championed.
He said the large attendance at the prayers, which brought together people from different parts of the country and across the political divide, reflected the respect and recognition the late chief enjoyed.
Dr Bawumia recalled that the chief provided food and shelter to people from northern Ghana who travelled to Accra in search of employment and needed assistance.
He said the late chief consistently encouraged people to seek guidance from the Qur’an in addressing life’s challenges.
33 years of traditional leadership
Born on June 14, 1936, in Savelugu, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Tahir was enskinned as the chief of the Dagomba community in Accra in 1993 and served for 33 years, according to the family tribute.
The family said his leadership strengthened the traditional structure, which expanded to include 37 subchiefs in various communities across Greater Accra.
He also served as President of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs and Chairman of the Greater Accra Council of Zongo Chiefs, where he championed peace, unity and community development.
The council, in its tribute, described him as a unifying leader who worked to bridge divisions among ethnic groups, generations and political affiliations.
It said he was a strong advocate for education and economic empowerment, particularly for young people, and worked to strengthen collaboration with state institutions, development organisations and civil society.
The council disclosed that it had secured more than 50 acres of land at Asifila, Ekate, in the Ga West area, for a proposed Islamic senior high school and nursing training college.
It said the late chief had played a key role in advancing the development aspirations of Zongo communities.
Palace served as a refuge for vulnerable people.
The family described the late chief as a father figure to people from different parts of Ghana, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or social background.
It said young men and women who travelled from northern Ghana to Accra in search of employment often turned to him when they became stranded.
His palace, the family said, provided refuge for such people, while he offered food and assistance to those in need.
The family said he consistently encouraged love and unity, believing that young people could not progress without mutual support and understanding.
A spiritual leader and mentor
Alhaji Ali Sadauna Kadiri English, Acting Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Office of the National Chief Imam, described the late chief as a mentor whose leadership was grounded in dialogue, tact and diplomacy.
He said the chief encouraged tolerance, honesty, humility and respect for humanity, values he considered essential to peaceful coexistence.
He also highlighted the late chief’s role as a senior adviser to the National Chief Imam and his commitment to promoting understanding among people of different backgrounds.
The National Council of Zongo Chiefs pledged to preserve the peace and unity the late chief helped foster and continue the development initiatives he championed.
The family also urged community members to uphold his message of love, compassion and mutual support.
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Tahir died on September 17, 2026, at the age of 90.
The tributes concluded with prayers said by a Senegalese cleric for Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him the highest abode in Jannah.
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