By Ahmed Osumanu Halid, Nima 441
The national chief imam is the head of the Muslim community in our country.
He is the recognized Muslim figure or leader by both the government and other stakeholders. He is called Sheik Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu.
Our imam has consistently preached peace.
He appreciates peace and knows that the country Ghana is a secular state. It is not a Christian or Muslim state. He actualizes the teachings of the Holy, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that Muslims should live peacefully with their Christian brethren. He admonished us to co-exist with other people provided they have not created any disaffection for us.
Interestingly, the peaceful religion, Islam, allows its adherents to even marry practicing Christians.
In Ghana, it is a fact that both Muslims and Christians live peacefully. They receive education together, teach, do politics, live or stay in the rented apartments together, undertake sports and other social activities together including funerals, marriage ceremonies, etc do business together, and other relationships.
About a fortnight ago, the national chief imam donated a whopping amount of fifty thousand Ghana Cedis to support the construction of the national cathedral for the state.
The essence of the cathedral is to be used for national religious assignments. It is not to be managed or owned by any of the Christian bodies like Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, Methodists, and other Christian faith.
It is a national monument, to be used by every Ghanaian even though a Christian biased.
Our national asset, the chief imam heads the Muslim population, he is a Ghanaian and can act within the confines of the laws of Ghana and tenets of Islam.
Some Muslims did not agree with him for taking such a giant step of contributing to a national course.
It is fair. As humans, we may not have to agree on all issues or matters.
I am sure there are many other Muslims who agreed with that singular act by the head of Muslims in the country. I am one of them.
Our nation is a great one when it comes to religious tolerance and the relationship that exists between us.
For instance, today there is a beautiful mosque in the Parliament of Ghana where Members of Parliament, staff, and those from outside the corners of the House congregate to worship. The Muslim MPs and their Christian counterparts from the two major political parties relate very well for the sake of the country.
At the Presidency, you have the President being a Christian and a Vice President a Muslim. The gel together and work for the benefit and the growth of our economy or country. On the bench (judiciary) there are Judges who dispense justice with their colleagues, Christians.
We are classmates, work colleagues, associates in our businesses, in sports. etc.
The chief imam has shown the way. We can follow suit not only contributing to the building of the edifice(cathedral) but living peacefully and happily with one another, after all, we are humans and Ghanaians.
Chief Imam fully appreciates togetherness among the citizens.
The Imam’s gesture is not ungodly or illegal but a fruitful one.
Those who want to taint the image of our revered imam with their dirty and inhuman politics will fail. He is not a politician, he is a religious person who only believes in peace, love, and unity. Liking the economic challenges of the Zango communities to him, is a nonstarter. He doesn’t control or manage the nation’s purse.
Chief Imam spends a lot in education, training, feeding, and meeting the other needs of numerous Muslims.
You walk your talks like a true peacemaker and a peace lover.
I hope, observers are not perturbed.
