Ho: A section of the youth within the Ho Zongo community have hinted at attempts to disrupt Friday prayers at the Ho Central Mosque following the appointment of Alhaji Muniru Ali as the Chief Imam of the Volta region.

According to them, they would fight any force that seeks to foist the newly appointed regional imam, Sheikh Muniru Ali, on the congregation.

Their rejection comes barely three weeks after the endorsement of the 52-year-old statistician as the Regional Imam by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, who introduced the new Imam to the Asogli State and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council at a ceremony held in Ho.

Mohammed Salisu Kidzah, the Zongo Youth Leader in Ho, stressed the youth’s commitment to due process, warning against any form of intimidation from security agencies or traditional authorities.

“We stand for peace, and so we are sending a signal to the police service and the traditional leaders that we will not tolerate intimidation. We stand for peace. Those planning to come to the mosque on Friday to take over from us should not try it.” He said at a press briefing held on Thursday.

According to the Zongo youth, the appointment smacked of political and traditional interference, and they urged state authorities to act swiftly to ensure fairness and restore calm.

“We, the members of the Ho Central Zongo community, vow to challenge the decision with our last drop of blood to resist any attempt by the so-called Volta Chief Imam, Alhaji Muniru, to organise any prayer or lead any congregation on behalf of the Muslim community because we do not recognise the said person as the Volta Regional Chief Imam,” said Abdul Rasak Abubakar, a Vice Youth Leader of Ho Zongo, at a press conference.

“Political involvement in such issues threatens the unity, stability, and peace of the community. We appeal to the regional and national leadership of the NDC, as well as state authorities, to intervene and ensure fairness prevails in the ongoing Imamship process.”

Alhaji Muniru was first turbaned as the regional chief Imam six years ago by Sarki Yashawu Bashiru Turawah, the Ho Zongo Chief.

 There has been tension in the Zongo community over the past decade over who is to become the substantive regional Imam following the death of Imam Hamza Danjumma, who resided in Ho Zongo and passed away in 2013.

The main contenders for the position were the then deputy regional Imam, Sheikh Alfa Anas Hamidu, and Alhaji Muniru.

Those resisting the mosque takeover are backing the former deputy imam, Sheikh Alfa Anas, insisting he is the rightful successor.

In February 2021, the Ho Municipal Security Council closed the Central Mosque to prevent clashes between factions involved in the imamate dispute.

But for the swift intervention of the police, a near-fatal clash would have occurred a month later when weapon-wielding men thronged the mosque premises to disrupt Friday prayers on March 12, 2021, to prevent Alfa Anas Hamidu from leading prayers.

These were men reported to be supporters of Alhaji Muniru Ali, the currently installed Chief Imam.