Accra – Some senior figures of Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWAJ) Ghana have reaffirmed their allegiance to Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam, the National Imam whose position has been contested following a decision by the National Da’wah Council (NADAC) to remove him from office.

The clerics declared their support for Sheikh Umar during a press conference at the ASWAJ National Headquarters in Accra, insisting that he remained the legitimate leader of the organisation despite the announcement of his removal.

They included Sheikh Mohammed Zakaria Addo, Chairman of the National Da’wah Committee; Dr Mohammed Bashir Adam, Chairman of NADAC; Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan, Chairman of the National Representative Assembly (NRA); and Sheikh Khidir Adam Iddris, Greater Accra Regional Imam of ASWAJ.

Dr Adam said allegiance to a religious leader was an obligation for which Muslims would be held accountable on the Day of Judgement.

He said ASWAJ was a religious organisation, not a political entity, and required members to demonstrate loyalty to its leadership.

His position was significant given that NADAC, under whose authority Sheikh Umar’s removal was announced, had issued a resolution declaring him removed following a vote of no confidence on November 4.

Dr Adam had, however, subsequently challenged the process, saying he had neither convened nor authorised the meeting at which the decision was taken.

Sheikh Khidir expressed concern about what he described as the excessive emphasis some religious scholars placed on constitutional provisions at the expense of the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad.

“Why should we go according to constitution when this is what the Imam is saying? And what the Imam is saying or ordering has not gone contrary to what the Quran or Hadith teaches,” he queried.

He argued that Sheikh Umar was not committing a sin by expressing his opposition to a particular individual becoming First Deputy National Imam.

Sheikh Salman, who read a separate statement at the National Imam Press Conference, also reaffirmed Sheikh Umar’s position, saying he would continue to lead the organisation.

The statement, delivered under the theme, “Bridging the Past and the Future of Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah in Ghana,” called for justice, trustworthiness and accountability as the basis for resolving the leadership differences.

“We hereby want to reiterate that the National Imam of Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’ah of Ghana is Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam. He was the chosen one from the day Ahlu Sunnah came together and he is still the leader and he will continue to be the leader,” it said.

It described trustworthiness, known in Islam as Amanah, as a foundation of leadership and responsibility, stressing that efforts to restore unity would be difficult without confidence and accountability.

The statement said reconciliation should go beyond meetings and the signing of agreements and must be guided by the Quran, the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad and the ASWAJ Constitution.

It encouraged continued dialogue among members but maintained that Sheikh Umar’s position as National Imam should be respected.

“The doors of reconciliation as people are calling for it remains open,” it said, adding that Allah and His Messenger should be the first point of reference in the reconciliation process, followed by the organisation’s Constitution.

The statement also called on members to protect ASWAJ from partisan political influence, insisting that the organisation’s religious and institutional decisions should remain independent of political affiliations.

It said individual members retained the right to participate in politics but cautioned against using religious offices to advance the interests of political parties or movements.

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