The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra – The Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armeyao Shuaibu has observed with great concern the political rhetoric in the build-up to the upcoming election which suggests that the youth were being prepared for violence.

With inference from the ongoing debate about the compilation of the new register, he noted that statements and invective from politicians do raise to a new height, the “terrible tension” synonymous with activities in the round-up to elections since Ghana’s return to democracy in 1992.

He has therefore called on Muslim youth especially Zongo communities to resist the temptations of becoming the supply source for political violence in the country, an act he described as immoral and unethical.

“Response from political actors portends danger for our Country as it appears that young people are being prepared for action” he said.

He made the remarks during a media engagement organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Light Foundation on Tuesday.

The cleric said that a watershed moment for him during the Emile Short Commission was when two Muslims appeared before the commission respectively as a perpetrator and a victim.

“Both of them, which was a worry for me didn’t have any good place within the scheme of things. Even for them to speak, they needed an interpreter while all others who came there spoke on their own and with their lawyers” he said.

The time he said was therefore right for Muslims to strongly reject any politician who seeks to exploit the vulnerability of Muslim youth with the mindset of using violence as a means of political expression.

He added that “we must speak against this with the strongest of voice and say this across to Muslims and non-Muslims alike”.

Vigilantism, now outlawed in the country, he said, came in different forms; and Muslims should take note and act accordingly to nip it in the bud.

Speaking on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheikh Shuaib expressed worry over challenges that included the unnecessary politicisation of information on the disease and the proliferation of fake news which affects the credibility of genuine information.

He said the National Chief Imam suspended prayers at the Abossey Okai Central Mosque due to the large size of congregants and challenges with adhering to protocols.

In institutional mosques such as the King Abdul Aziz Mosque at Burma Camp and the Cantonments Police Mosque, including small facilities, however, the task of adhering to the hygiene protocols was not difficult, he said.

He has for that reason urged all Muslims to take personal responsibility by properly playing their individual roles in order to ensure the safety of the Muslim community.

Also present at the event was the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amoh who hinted at activities planned by the council which include the implementation of a roadmap that would complement Act 999 on vigilantism in order to achieve a peaceful, violent free election.