The Northern Region Muslims Council of Ghana has undertaken another novel intervention to foster cohesion among Muslim couples’ in the region. The group last Saturday (August 10, 2024) inaugurated a 30-member team of marriage counselors to provide guidance to couples whose marriages are facing difficulties.
The 30-member selected from diverse backgrounds and expertise were sworn into office under the theme; “Upholding the virtues of honesty, confidentiality, secrecy and truth in Islamic counseling”.
Before the inaugural ceremony were given three-months intensive capacity building training to equip them with requisite knowledge and understanding of marriage issues based on the Islamic perspective in order to address various underlying physical and psychological needs of Muslim couples.
Speaking to the media, Chairman of the Northern Region Muslims Council, Sheikh Abubakari Issah underscored the importance of marriage counseling to Muslim couples.
“Marriages are crumbling, relationships are breaking and homes are going through so many challenges. We know what is happening among the youth, we know how hard substances have been abused, there’s the need for us to have professional bodies that will come and blend experience with religion so that when these challenges are brought to them, they’ll be able to handle them successfully with Quranic injunctions and authenticated prophetic traditions.”
He emphasized the council would pilot the initiative for the next eight months in some selected Mosques in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality which includes the Anbaria Central Mosque, Nahdah Mosque, Manhalia Central mosque, Masjidul Bayaan, Ahlul-Bait, Aboabo Central mosque, Masjidul Salam, and the Tamale Central Mosque.
“We’re going to do the piloting for 8 months and then we would review the entire programme and if there’s the need for us to expand it to the other districts then we would do so” Alhaji Issah announced.
He further called for media collaboration with the council to highlight these programmes and initiatives in order to educate the general public.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Council has also announced plans to begin issuance of marriage certificates to couples in line with Islamic dictates and tradition.
The Council Chairman observed the difficulties couples go through especially when they are traveling abroad with their spouses.
