The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Unison has eluded Ghanaian Muslims over the start of the Ramadan fast, as different dates have been set for the start of the fast.

While many commenced the fasting on Monday, March 11, 2024, others are to begin the fasting on Tuesday or Wednesday, pending the findings of the National Hilal Committee, a body officially tasked with the sighting of the crescent in Ghana.

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, the leadership of Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaa (ASWAJ) Ghana announced the sighting of the crescent in Wa, the Upper West region, to signify the start of the Ramadan fast on Monday.

The imam of the organisation, Imam Hajj Umar Ibrahim, made the announcement via a Facebook broadcast.

However, the National Hilal Committee, which reports to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has discredited the sighting of the crescent by ASWAJ Ghana due to the time for sighting the moon.

The committee claimed that the sighting of the crescent occurred within a certain period, which was inaccurate and, for that matter, impossible to spot the new crescent.

“I asked them at what time they spotted the crescent, and the young man told me they spotted the crescent after Maghrib (sunset) prayers.

“Based on our knowledge and calculations, the sighting of the crescent is not true because it is impossible to sight a new crescent after maghrib prayers,” said Sheikh Umar Alhassan, the chairman of the National Hilal Committee, in a broadcast via Facebook.

It must be noted that there are countries that began fasting on Monday, and they include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt, among others.

Those expected to begin fasting on Tuesday include Jordan, Morocco, Iran, Libya, and Australia, among others.