Imam Hajj Umar announces parallel ASWAJ leadership appointments
Accra: Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, National Imam of Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a (ASWAJ), has announced a new leadership arrangement that introduces two acting National Deputy Imams alongside the organisation’s existing First and Second National Deputy Imams.
On behalf of the Imam, Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan, Chairman of the National Representative Assembly, at a press conference on Monday announced Sheikh Munir Abdullah Tawfiq and Sheikh Muhammad Awal Abdullah Hafiz as acting National Deputy Imams.
The announcement stated that neither of the two would be designated First or Second National Deputy Imam.
“Nobody will call himself the first, and the other one is the second,” it stated, adding that the two would act as deputies based on responsibilities assigned to them by the National Imam.
The development effectively introduces an additional deputy leadership arrangement while Sheikh Mohammed Kamil Mohammed and Sheikh Amin Osman Tanko continue to occupy the constitutionally recognised First and Second National Deputy Imam positions, respectively.
The announcement did not indicate that the two existing deputies had been removed from office, suspended or replaced.
It also did not indicate that the National Da’awa Council (NADAC) had conducted a fresh election to change the existing deputy leadership.
Under Article 7(C) of the ASWAJ Constitution, the election of the National Imam and the two National Deputy Imams is vested in NADAC.
The Constitution provides for the First and Second National Deputy Imams as distinct offices, with the First Deputy responsible for Da’awa and designated to act for the National Imam in his absence.
The second deputy is responsible for education and has defined responsibilities when the first deputy is unavailable.
The creation of two acting deputy positions without the First and Second designations has therefore raised questions about the relationship between the new appointees and the existing constitutional offices.
The development also raises questions about the extent of the National Imam’s administrative appointment powers, particularly where the Constitution specifies the process for electing the National Imam and the two deputies.
The Constitution identifies the National Imam, First National Deputy Imam and Second National Deputy Imam as members of the National Executive Council (NEC).
Other national appointments announced at the meeting included Dr Muhammad Awal Isa of Anbariya Islamic Institute as Acting Special Adviser to the National Imam on Religious Affairs.
Sheikh Muniru Abdurrahmani was also announced as acting General Secretary of ASWAJ, a position occupied by Yacuob Shuaib Abban, while Lawyer Abdullahi was named Lead Legal Counsel of ASWAJ.
Hajia Salma Tahir Umar Kuta was also appointed Acting National Women President.
The latest appointments come amid continuing disagreements within ASWAJ over leadership, constitutional interpretation and the powers of its various organs.
The new arrangement is therefore likely to intensify questions over the status of the existing national office holders and whether the National Imam can establish acting positions alongside constitutional offices whose occupants are elected through NADAC.
In response to the new appointment, a statement purportedly released by ASWAJ Headquarters and signed by Yacuob Shuaib Abban indicated that the organisation’s constitutional organs have not approved the appointments.
“The National Executive Council (NEC), the National Dawa’a Council (NaDaC), and the National Congress have not made any such appointments.”
The “General Secretary” therefore urged “the general public and the entire Ahlussuna Wal Jama’a community to disregard the said video and any information contained therein regarding the purported appointments.”
He said ASWAJ leadership positions were required to be determined through the procedures prescribed by the organisation’s Constitution.
“Such leadership positions are to be determined through the constitutional processes and are not made by unilateral appointment,” he stated, urging members and the public to rely only on “official communications issued through the appropriate constitutional organs of ASWAJ.”
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