Caterers affected by the recent cancellation of contracts under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) are seeking intervention from traditional and religious leaders, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu.
Their appeal comes in response to the termination of all existing caterer contracts, which took effect on May 2, 2025. The directive, issued by GSFP National Coordinator Hajia Fati Forgor, instructed that no caterer should prepare meals for the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year. While government has pledged to clear arrears from the second term, it has yet to communicate when payments will be made or outline a clear plan for re-engagement.
On Eyewitness News with Sammi Wiafe, Deputy PRO of the National School Feeding Caterers Association, Madam Margaret Larbi, revealed that the group has begun reaching out to influential figures across the country to help present their case.
“Our President said we have petitions to be sent. We’re trying to get in touch with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, to intervene,” she disclosed.
She further indicated that other respected voices, such as the Chief Imam, would also be approached to help mediate on behalf of the distressed caterers.
“So, we’re trying to get him to go and plead on our behalf. We’re trying to go to the Chief Imam. Tomorrow [Friday, May 9], we have a lot to do to send some petitions to other influential individuals in the country to be able to speak on our behalf,” she stated.
The mass contract termination has particularly hit hard those caterers who had already procured food supplies in anticipation of the third term.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, clarified that while the government will honour payments for meals already prepared, there will be no compensation for food items bought in advance without official instruction.
“I sympathise with the situation. There’s no room for compensation, but for the period that they have cooked, they will be paid,” she said.
Dr. Lartey added that the caterers should have been more cautious, given their understanding of the operational challenges facing the programme.
“Most of them were not cooking, and they are very much aware they were not cooking. Some too were cooking, but not consistently,” she explained.
The ministry says the termination is part of a broader restructuring initiative, with new recruitment procedures expected to be announced soon.
In an effort to curb the rising financial burden of lavish wedding ceremonies, the Chief Imam of the Bole Traditional Area, Alhaji Mohammed Iddrisu, has announced a ban on extravagant Islamic weddings within his jurisdiction.
The directive, which takes effect from March 5, 2025, was outlined in an official statement signed by the Chief Imam.
“I am grateful to inform your esteemed office that I, the Chief Imam (Alhaji Mohammed Iddrisu) of Bole Traditional Area, after several council meetings with the Islamic clergy, wish to put a ban on extravagant Islamic weddings within my jurisdiction which do not conform to Islamic practices, starting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025,” the statement read.
According to the Chief Imam, the decision seeks to promote modest and affordable weddings that align with Islamic teachings, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent young people from getting married.
“This decision aims to curb deviant practices which set high wedding costs, therefore making it difficult for many youth to get married,” he stated.
Islamic weddings, much like Christian white weddings, have evolved into elaborate celebrations involving expensive receptions, multiple outfits, and high-end photography.
The move by the Chief Imam is expected to ease financial pressures on families and restore simplicity to the marriage process.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Zakaria Al Shoukry has been appointed as the new Chief Imam for the Ashanti Region, succeeding the late Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, who passed away on December 17, 2024, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
Sheikh Haroun had served the Muslim community in the region for 13 years.
Sheikh Al Shoukry’s appointment was approved by the Council of Ulama, the Council of Zongo Chiefs, and other elders, under the leadership of the Ghana Muslim Mission. His new role builds on his previous position as Deputy Chief Imam, a role he assumed 13 years ago.
As the Chief Imam, Sheikh Al Shoukry’s responsibilities extend beyond spiritual leadership to fostering unity and cooperation among the diverse Muslim community in the Ashanti Region.
At the appointment ceremony, held at the Islamic Senior High School, the National Chairman of the Ghana Muslim Mission, Sheikh Dr. Amin Bonsu, called on the new Chief Imam to prioritize inclusivity and unity.
“You will work to advance the interests of the Ghana Muslim Mission, uphold its values and objectives, contribute to the growth and development of Islam, and enhance the welfare of Muslims,” Sheikh Dr. Amin stated.
He also urged Sheikh Al Shoukry to transcend tribal, sectarian, and political divisions in his leadership, promoting fairness and respect for all Muslims.
“We are confident that your experience, wisdom, and leadership abilities make you the ideal candidate for this position. We look forward to working with you to promote the interests of the Ghana Muslim Mission and the Muslim community in Ghana,” he added.
Sheikh Al Shoukry expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him and called on the Muslim community to rally behind him in his new role.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Alhaji Karim Grusah, and marked a significant moment for the Muslim community in the region.
Deputy Bono RegionalChief Imam,Alhaji Baba Seidu, has urged politicians and their supporters to manage their emotions and avoid making inflammatory statements that could provoke or anger their political opponents.
He warned that such behaviour could escalate tensions, incite violence, and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the nation.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Alhaji Seidu emphasised that political instability would have a detrimental impact, particularly on vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
He called on Ghanaians to value and protect the country’s peace with great care.
The Chief Imam also stressed the importance of the security forces in this process, urging law enforcement agencies to remain impartial and professional, avoiding any alignment with political parties.
He emphasised their critical role in maintaining peace and order during, before, and after the December 7 elections.
“Thesecurity services must remain resolute and bold to stand for the truth and protect the interests of the public and the nation,” Alhaji Seidu advised.
The National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and political stakeholders to prioritize transparency and accountability in the upcoming December 7 general elections.
As the nation approaches a pivotal democratic exercise, the Chief Imam has urged political leaders to exercise caution in their language and avoid making inflammatory statements that could incite unrest or division among the public.
Addressing a group of Muslim youth in Accra, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu emphasized the crucial role politicians and key players must play in ensuring peace during the electoral process. He pointed out that the responsibility for peaceful elections extends beyond the Electoral Commission and requires a collective effort from political parties, candidates, and their supporters.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, the Chief Imam stressed that politicians, being at the forefront of the campaign season, bear a special responsibility to maintain civility in their utterances, as their words hold significant influence.
The Chief Imam also urged the Electoral Commission to ensure transparency throughout the process.
“As citizens, we must keep the peace. He [Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu] calls on all those who are stakeholders in our election processes, i.e. the EC must do all that it takes to ensure that there is transparency and accountability, to ensure that we can have a credible election that will guarantee a credible result.”
He further emphasized the need for the EC to uphold its duties to secure public trust. “Everything that the EC must do, the EC must make sure they do so. He calls on the political parties to be cautious about the way they speak to their supporters, the vitriolics, the diatribes, and some of the fierce statements that we see being put out there,” he added.
Sheikh Sharubutu’s appeal comes at a time when the nation is gearing up for an important election, with calls for all involved to uphold peace and integrity throughout the process.
National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has called on Muslims across the country to fulfil their civic duty by paying taxes, emphasizing that doing so is essential for sustainable national development.
He expressed concern about the country’s growing indebtedness and urged the Muslim community to play their part in raising revenue for Ghana’s development.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, during a courtesy call by the newly constituted Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday, the Chief Imam stressed that paying taxes is in line with Islamic teachings on supporting the less privileged and contributing to societal well-being.
“As Muslims, it is our obligation to engage in acts of charity, but it is equally important that we adhere to national laws, including the responsibility of paying taxes to support development projects,” the Chief Imam stated.
The visit was part of the GRA’s tax education month, during which the Board sought to introduce its new members to the Chief Imam and to foster collaboration on tax sensitization efforts.
The Chief Imam expressed willingness to partner with the GRA in outreach programs aimed at educating the public on tax compliance.
Sheikh Sharubutu also encouraged all Imams across the country to use their platforms to promote the importance of tax payment, highlighting the direct connection between tax revenue and the provision of public infrastructure and services. Additionally, he urged the GRA to ensure accountability and transparency in the collection and utilization of taxes, which he said would help build trust among citizens.
In his remarks, Joe Ghartey, Chairman of the GRA Board, expressed concern over Ghana’s low tax compliance rates, noting that only 40% of the country’s revenue comes from taxation. He stressed that without adequate tax contributions, the country cannot undertake significant development projects or achieve financial independence.
“Ghanaians must start thinking about what they can contribute to the country in addition to what they expect from the government through their taxes. If we truly want to reach our developmental goals, we must pay our taxes,” Ghartey said.
He added that reducing dependence on borrowing from development partners would strengthen Ghana’s economy and help pave the way for long-term growth.
Other members of the GRA Board present at the meeting included Ms. Julie Essiam, the Commissioner-General; Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo, Commissioner of the Customs Division; Ms. Pearl Darko, Commissioner in charge of the Support Services Division; and board members Ms. Susan Akomea and Mrs. Araba Bosomtwe.
As part of the visit, the GRA team also made a donation to the Chief Imam, presenting him with an undisclosed sum of money along with various items, including bags of rice, cartons of Frytol oil, bottled water, and soft drinks.
The Chief Imam concluded by offering prayers for the leadership of the GRA and for continued peace in Ghana as the country approaches the next general elections.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has praised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his outstanding leadership and generosity, highlighting the significant positive impact he has made on people’s lives.
This commendation was made during the 2024 National Eid ul Adha prayers held at Independence Square in Accra.
In his speech, Sheikh Sharubutu expressed deep appreciation for Dr. Bawumia’s dedication to using his leadership position to serve others, emphasizing that not all leaders take such an approach.
“God honoured him with leadership, and he has used that honour to serve people well. Not everyone does that,” remarked Sheikh Sharubutu.
He noted that Dr. Bawumia’s efforts have benefited both Muslims and non-Muslims, showcasing his inclusive approach to leadership.
The Vice President attended the event alongside thousands of Ghanaians, underscoring his commitment to unity and community engagement. Sheikh Sharubutu expressed gratitude to Allah for blessing the nation with a leader like Dr. Bawumia, who extends support across diverse backgrounds.
“What excites me about Dr. Bawumia is that both Muslims and non-Muslims are beneficiaries of his leadership and kindness,” the National Chief Imam continued. “I want to express gratitude to the Almighty Allah for giving us a generous and kind person like Dr. Bawumia, who supports not only Muslims but all people from diverse backgrounds.”
Dr. Bawumia, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, was among the many gathered for the national Eid ul Adha prayers. His presence and active participation highlighted his dedication to his faith and his constituents.
Sheikh Sharubutu further emphasized the Vice President’s selflessness and the significant impact of his leadership, which has provided support and assistance to various communities. He lauded Dr. Bawumia for his ability to bridge divides and foster unity through his actions and generosity.
The Office of the National Chief Imam is advising members of the Muslim community to be cautious during the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr today.
Muslims worldwide are marking Eid ul-Fitr to conclude the month-long fasting period in Ramadan. This day, observed as a holiday for Muslims globally, is also recognized as a public holiday in Ghana.
However, the start of the holiday varies from country to country due to the traditional practice of sighting the crescent moon, which can differ from astronomical calculations and vary based on geographical location.
In an interview with Citi News, the spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheik Armiyawo Shaibu, urged members of the Islamic community to observe the day peacefully, avoiding any acts of violence.
“We don’t want to see our Muslim youth come out with violence. We don’t want them to really terrorize non-Muslim onlookers who want to see the beauty of our celebration using reckless riding of motorbikes and also riding in the booths of taxi cabs all over the place.
“They must come out clad in the best of their apparel. And then let’s also share the goodies and the best we can with even our non-Muslims. Share the greetings. I want the non-Muslim community to be part of the experience. So let’s share with them and be as disciplined as possible. Let us not use the occasion to violate the laws of our country.”
In the course of an Iftar celebration in Accra on April 8, 2024, Henry Quartey, Minister of the Interior, humbly knelt before Ghana’s revered Chief Imam to receive blessings, showcasing profound respect.
The cherished moment captured Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the Chief Imam, bestowing blessings upon Henry Quartey, a significant religious figure in Ghana.
As Henry Quartey knelt, the Chief Imam tenderly placed his hands on his head, offering words of wisdom and blessings.
Among the attendees were Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kyerematen, leader of the Movement for Change, who have also been witnessed in similar heartfelt moments with the Chief Imam.
Henry Quartey engaged in the Iftar festivities at the Alajo AstroTurf Park, sharing food and drinks with the Muslim community.
This year’s Eid-ul-Fitr for the Muslim community is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has voiced his enthusiasm regarding the recent approval of the contentious anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
After almost three years of discussion, Parliament passed the bill on February 28.
In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on March 2, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, the spokesperson for the Chief Imam, expressed the Muslim community’s joy, stating that the bill would help uphold family values.
“I can say without any equivocation that the Chief Imam was relatively joyful about the passing of this bill because he has fully been briefed about what we are going through with respect to the evolvement of this LGBTQ+ phenomenon in our country and the attempt to really universalise it and make it something normal and something acceptable.
“And as somebody who is the leader of Muslims in this country, he could not actually give any support to such matter to be allowed.
“For us, it is a moral issue, it is something that also goes to the very heart of the protection of the family which in the Muslim understanding of things is the property of God. It is the smallest unit of society into which every single human being is born,” he said.
He clarified that anything that undermines the family system will not receive their support.
“Any practice that seeks to undermine the survival of the family must truly be condemned. For us, it is reprehensible, abominable, and objectionable. So Chief Imam is so happy,” he added.
He commended legislators for their steadfastness despite the numerous objections and challenges the bill faced. When asked about concerns regarding the bill violating basic human rights, the spokesperson emphasized that laws are enacted to benefit people and society.
Therefore, any law that threatens the purity of society should not be seen as merely an academic exercise.
“It is not an academic issue, it is not a human rights issue but it is about survival. Any law that is harmful to society, society must think together within our wisdom and that is what identifies us and distinguishes us from other nations,” he added.
Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has issued a plea for calm amidst tensions in Bawku in the Upper East region.
Addressing the public in an interview, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, serving as the spokesperson for the Chief Imam, expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in Bawku.
He emphasized that the situation is particularly troubling for the National Chief Imam, as they have kinsmen residing in the affected area.
Tensions are escalating once more in the Bawku area after the reported killing of three young men, allegedly by military officers.
Eyewitnesses claim that the young men had not engaged in any actions justifying their arrest and subsequent killing by the soldiers. In contrast, the military refutes these allegations, asserting that the soldiers acted in self-defense.
Residents are calling for justice for the killing of the young men.
Reacting to the situation, Sheikh Shaibu stated that the predominantly Muslim population of Bawku should look to the Qur’an’s teachings of peace and let peace prevail.
“I use the voice of the National Chief Imam to call on the people of Bawku because they’re largely Muslims, and I want to call them to look at the spirit of peace as established in our own language and the greetings that we greet – As-salamu alaykum – peace be upon you.
“They should look at this and look at peace as one of the virtues and values of Islam and once silence the gun, break the cycle of vengeance, sound more conciliatory, let’s explore more opportunities for negotiated peace through dialogue and know that as we do so, we’ll be able to reach [peace],” he said.
The office of the National Chief Imam has welcomed the suggestions put forward by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), advocating for a reconsideration of the date for general elections in Ghana, currently set for December 7.
In their petition to the Electoral Commission (EC), the Seventh Day Adventist Church expressed concerns that their members might face disenfranchisement because the election day falls on a Saturday, a day observed for the worship of God according to their religious beliefs.
In addition to requesting a change in the election date, the church is calling for legislative measures to ensure that future elections in the country do not coincide with religiously significant days.
In an interview with JoyNews, Dr. Solace Asafo, the Director for Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, provided additional details on their efforts to address concerns related to the election date. Besides submitting a petition to the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Asafo mentioned that the church has engaged in discussions with the National Chief Imam on this matter.
As a potential solution, Dr. Asafo indicated that the church has proposed alternative dates for the election to the EC. One of the suggested alternatives is holding the election on the first Tuesday or any Tuesday in November or December of 2024.
“It’s still a conflict because sometimes you stand in the queue on election day for a long time before you get to cast your vote and so that’s why we are advocating for.
“We’ve met with the Chief Imam, we’ve written to all the religious major organizations, we’ve met with all the political parties as well. So it’s not just demanding a change for some of the Adventists, but we think that it should not be held on any religious day.
“And our choice of Tuesday is also because traditionally, along the coast, most fishers folks don’t go fishing on Tuesday. So we think that it caters for everybody’s interests,” she said.
The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, in response, has affirmed support for the Seventh Day Adventist’s proposal to reconsider the election date, recognizing the potential challenges the Muslim community would encounter if elections were scheduled on a Friday—a sacred day of worship in Islam.
Highlighting the significance of respecting the sacred days of various religions, the spokesperson emphasized the importance of democratic processes that allow all citizens the opportunity to participate in voting without compromising their religious practices.
“The Holy Quran makes it very clear that whenever the call to prayer is made on Friday, it says to stop any other worldly activity and hasten the remembrance of God.
“You cannot sacrifice the prayer so that you go and cast your vote because, for us, it’s a law in Islam. Our challenge is just at the time of our prayer and no Muslim will sacrifice the Friday prayer to go and cast because it’s it is seen as a mundane activity.
“For us, if we succeed in really getting a compromised day in which nobody’s religious practice is compromised or nobody’s religious right is undermined, I think that it will go a long way to also continue to unify us as a nation,” he said.
A viral video from October 25, 2023, captured the BET award winner kneeling before the Chief Imam during his visit to the Imam’s residence in Accra. They engaged in fellowship and prayer, with Dr. Sharubutu blessing the young highlife/hip-hop star.
Black Sherif has always been vocal about his Islamic faith, though he occasionally takes artistic liberties. During a 2021 Pure FM interview hosted by Kojo Sebor, he disclosed that he belongs to the Sunni denomination, the largest within Islam, acknowledging that according to the faith’s dictates, “I’m not supposed to do music, but I do it.”
Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, the artist, known as Black Sherif, was raised in a Muslim household in Konongo Zongo, Ashanti Region. He is the son of an Akan Asante man who converted from Christianity to Islam.
Black Sherif’s visit to the Chief Imam’s residence follows his remarkable victory at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Hip-hop Awards 2023, where he was honored as the Best International Flow Award winner, just a year after losing during his maiden nomination.
His most recent project, a two-track single titled “Take Care of Yourself, Blacko,” includes instant hits “Simmer Down” and “Yaya.”
Black Sherif pays a courtesy call on his spiritual leader, Chief Imam sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu at his residency. pic.twitter.com/xbhQcR9yWE
The Dutch international, Georginio Wijnaldum, paid a visit to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, at his residence in Fadama, Accra, on July 3.
Wijnaldum and his fellow Dutch footballer Memphis Depay are currently in Ghana for their summer break following a demanding season.
A photo captured Wijnaldum shaking hands with the Chief Imam, who blessed him with Islamic prayers. Prior to the visit, Wijnaldum spent time at a gym interacting with aspiring boxers and also explored the Black Star Square.
In the coming days, he will travel to Italy to join AS Roma for pre-season preparations. It is noteworthy that Wijnaldum used to be known as Georginio Boateng earlier in his career but changed his surname.
He inherited the name from his stepfather but decided to change it after his parents divorced. Wijnaldum, a winner of the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Champions League, has earned 86 caps for the Netherlands national team.
President Akufo-Addo and his wife Rebecca on Sunday, 23rd April 2023, visited the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, at his residence in Fadama, to wish him a happy 104th birthday.
President Akufo-Addo described the Chief Imam’s age as a “blessed and privileged club.”
He described the National Chief Imam’s guidance of the Muslim flock in Ghana as truly exemplary.
“Our country may well be the envy of the rest of the world, when it comes to the question of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence. His leadership and contribution to this state of affairs have been outstanding,” Nana Akufo-Addo praised and prayed for God’s blessings of wisdom, good health, long life, and prosperity for him.
Biography of Nuhu Sharubutu
Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu was born at Accra cow-lane in April 1919 by reputable parents from a well cultured and knowledgeable House.
His father, Sheikh Imam Nuhu Sharubutu was the Imam-Raatib (regular or residential Imam) of the Accra Central Mosque in the late 1960s to 1982 when he demised.
His mother, Hajja Ayishatu Abbass popularly known as Mma Tasidi, may her soul rest in peace and perfect bliss, also contributed immensely to the moral and psychological development of her son by ensuring that he had the proper home upbringing to go side with Islamic Education.
His mother was the sister of the Greater Accra Regional Imam who also rose to be called the National Imam (from late 1933 to 1960), Sheikh Imam Muhammed Abbas popularly known as Mallam Muhammad Mazawaje.
Young Osmanu started his education at home from his father during the day and with his mother at night.
It was widely reported and confirmed by Sheikh Osmanu himself that his mother was given to the father by his uncle, the late Imam Abbas Mazawaje who saw in his father high degree of fear of Allah and qualities of leadership.
Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, the father of young Osmanu was a prominent student of Sheikh Imam Abbas Mazawaje and became a member of the House.
Young Osmanu grew up to be a truly Islamic Model and a Unique Islamic heavyweight in knowledge and wisdom worthy of emulation.
At any point in time since his childhood till date he has been hammering on the need for all Ghanaians, Muslims and Christians to live in peace, saying that any divisive tendencies could leave room for our enemies to penetrate and defeat us.
His journey to Kumasi
When his father saw his true devotion and love for books and knowledge, he decided to send Osman to a new learning environment.
It was later decided that the Garden City and the Capital of Ashanti Region becomes his new learning destination.
The prominent Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abdullah Dan Tano became his next teacher.
That was where he went through a highly advanced course in Arabic Grammar, Arabic Literature and Texts, the study of Islamic Jurisprudence and Al-Hadiths (practices of the Holy Prophet).
He remained there until he graduated with distinction from Kumasi.
The aftermath of his journey to Kumasi
After his advanced studies in Kumasi, Mallam Osmanu became a completely changed and reformed personality.
This is due to the deep knowledge he acquired outside his original environment and his ability to imbibe the moral teachings from his teachers.
After careful contemplation, he later took a decision of devoting his time to teaching the Muslim youth who are keen in learning to become Islamic scholars, thinkers, teachers and imams in future.
Even as a teacher himself, he continued to have the desire and love for the pursuit of knowledge to the extent that anytime he heard of an Islamic Scholar, he rushed to fall on his feet as a student to seek further knowledge thereby benefiting from that scholar.
Among the illustrious scholars and Sheikhs who taught Mallam Osmanu are Sheikh Alhaji Mohammed, popularly known as Baraw, may he rest in peace.
Sheikh Baraw taught the interpretation of the Holy Quran, Classic Arabic Language, Literature and Texts.
Another famous Sheikh who served as a tutor and instructor to Mallam Osmanu was Sheikh Abubakar Fulaaty Al Kanawy who hailed from Nigeria.
It was this Sheikh who taught him Arabic Culture, Al-Hadith of the Holy Prophet, Arabic Texts and Fundamentals of Sufism.
Meeting Alhaji Sheikh Ibrahima Niass Qutbu Zaman
Mallam Osmanu continued with research on Sufism, by often devoting his leisure time in mosques to listen to the preachers of the Tijjaniyya movement and Sufism.
When his maternal uncle Sheikh Imam Alhadji Mohammed Abbas Mazawaje, who was the Accra Chief Imam saw the devotion, interest and handwork in Osmanu he introduced the Tijjaniya Movement’s Special Meditation to him, which he readily embraced.
He pursued the Tijjaniya Meditation till the arrival of the grand pioneer of the movement, the torchbearer and supreme commander of the Tijjaniya of the 20th century, Grand Sheikh Alhadji Ibrahim Nyass from Kaolack in Sénégal.
Sheikh Ibrahim Niass taught Mallam Osmanu the deeper spiritual aspect of Sufism and rudiments of mysticism and eserotics which smoothly paved the way for Mallam Osmanu to become a true leader in the Tijjaniya Movement in Ghana.
His appointment as National Chief Imam
Interestingly in 1974, after lengthy discussions among the traditional and tribal chiefs, academics, Islamic scholars, and religious personalities, a consensus was reached for Sheikh Osmanu to be appointed as the Deputy Regional Chief Imam of Ghana, deputising his cousin, Sheikh Imam Muhammed Mukhtar Abbas who succeeded his father.
The appointment of Sheikh Osmanu as deputy Greater Accra Region Chief Imam was done in consideration of the unique qualities, Intellectual capacity, dedication to teaching and passion for Islam and exemplary lifestyle in him, but he turned down their offer which was forced on him by the Prominent Muslim Chiefs who persistently asked him to give it a serious thought stressing to him that it could be a divine call to serve God.
Subsequently, when it dawned on Sheikh Osmanu that it was a divine call for him to serve Islam and Muslim communities, he finally accepted the position as the acting Greater Accra Regional Chief Imam until 1993, when he was ceremoniously appointed as the National Chief Imam of Ghana to head the Ghanaian Muslim Communities.
His Islamic activities
Sheikh Osmanu was well known for his exemplary lifestyle and generosity to people who called on him with their personal problems. He has built many Arabic Schools, Islamic Centers and Mosques.
Normally he spends huge sums money in Organising conferences, seminars and symposia on thorny Islamic issues prevailing in the Islamic societies and the country as a whole.
From the amounts given on him, Sheikh Osmanu deserves the award given him by the University of Ghana who bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate Degree.
He deserves more of that from any Islamic University or Higher Institution of learning; also he really deserves the accolade of a great Muslim leader due to his immense contribution and love for maintaining peace and development in Ghana.
He is also contributing to the revival of good values and reform in the Muslim youth, Islamic faith and the Moslem communities.
Sheikh Osmanu also taught Islamic scholars and sheikhs.
Among his students were Muhammad Munir Dan Alpha who is now deputising him and even leading national Islamic prayers on behalf of his teacher(Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu), Sheikh Ustaz Abdul Aziz, Sheikh Yahyal-Ameen, Mallam Adam Attah (late), Mallam Saeed, Alhaji Jibril Madaha, Mallam Ibrahima Nyass, Mallam Mustapha Yaa Jalala, Mallam Habibu Gora, Sheikh Musa Abdul Kadir (late) and Mallam Zurkanain, to mention just a few.
To sum up, Sheikh Osmanu ranks high among the erudite and prominent Islamic Scholars Ghana has ever produced, among his contemporaries are sheikh Kamâludeen who was chosen directly by Sheikh Osmanu to serve as his Deputy National Chief Imam of Ghana and the late Sheikh Alhadji Haroun Rasheed.
Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu is the Grand Khalipha of Sheikh Ibrahim Niass from 1972 to date, a title that he personally considers and cherishes more-than the National Chief Imamship position.
In recent times, to climax his passion for education, smooth and mutual interfaith relations and peaceful coexistence, peacebuilding and unity, he founded two organisations that are making great marks and impacting positive changes in the lives of Ghanaians and the World in general.
The works and activities of the Chief Imam
1. Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) www.sonsetfundgh.org and the
2. Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC) www.ipasecgh.org cannot be overemphasised or overlooked in contemporary Ghana.
Achievements
The accomplishments of Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu at a glance;
1. The establishment of the Office of the National Chief Imam of Ghana in 1992
2. Engineered the realisation and manifestation of two (2) national holidays for Muslims in the official calendar of the Republic of Ghana
3. Establishment of seven Islamic schools; the Answaru-Deen Islamic School Complex, in the Greater Accra region
4. Self-trained, educated, sponsored and empowered over 50 well-disciplined and taught students in Islamic studies and they have become a force to reckon in the Muslim community in Ghana and have excelled in the field of Islamic knowledge and jurisprudence
5. Personally promoted Islamic education and encouraged the establishment of a unique system of education in Ghana, the marriage of traditional Islamic institutions and secular education to promote the acquisition of both.
6. Personally promoted and encouraged mutual understanding, dialogue and peaceful coexistence between religions (Interfaith relations) and interfaith beliefs (sects).
7. Self-sponsored (financially) hundreds of students to attain circular education in Ghana and abroad.
8. The establishment of an educational Trust Fund to support brilliant but needy students; the Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) www.sonsetfundgh.org
9. The establishment of an organisation that promotes peace, unity and sustainable peace in Ghana and abroad; the Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC) www.ipasecgh.org
10. The establishment of an orphanage to look after the education and welfare of homeless Muslim kids in Ghana; the Nuuru Usmaniya Foundation for Humanitarian Services and Development (NUSMA
11. The establishment of a first-class educational complex in Kasoa, Central Region; Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Educational Complex
12. Engineered the attraction of the financier organisation (Hunan Development International Foundation-HUDAI from Turkey) on the ongoing construction of the National Mosque at Kawo Kudi, Kanda, Accra.
13. Personally officiated over 5000 marriages in Ghana alone
14. Led funeral prayers on over 4000 Muslims in Ghana
15. Personally officiated over the naming ceremonies of over 10,000 Muslim children.
16. He was decorated with honours by the premier nation’s university, the University of Ghana, Legon in 2006 with doctorate degree for his works in humanities, teaching, imparting knowledge and peaceful activities.
17. Several other local and foreign universities awarded him with doctorate degrees.
Eminent Foreign Personalities
1. Sheikh Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ibrahim Niass, Grand Khalipha of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
2. Sheikh Usman Thahiru Bauchi, Prominent Islamic Cleric in Nigeria
3. Sheikh Imam Tijjani Cise, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
4. Sheikh Alhaji Mudassiru Adeleke Shitu Bulala, the Chairman of Al-Kanz magazine in Nigeria and CEO of a multinational group of companies in Ajay, Lagos
5. Sheikh Hisham Kabani Haqqani, President of the Islamic Supreme Council of America and World Wide Deputy Leader of the Naqshabandiya Sufi order
6. Minister Louis Farakan, Leader of the Nations of Islam in America
7. Minister of the Religion, Dr Khalid Yasin from the United States of America
8. Sheikh Imam Hassan Cisse, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Niass in Madina Kaolakh, Senegal
Ironically, all the above dignitaries revisited the National Chief Imam several times on their own personal accord on account of his leadership and hospitality.
Official trips
1. Republic of Turkey
2. Islamic Republic of Iran
3. The United Kingdom
4. United States of America
5. Royal Kingdom of Canada
6. Royal Kingdom of Morocco
7. Royal Kingdom of Denmark
8. Royal Kingdom of Finland
9. Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
10. Federal Republic of Nigeria
11. Republic of Senegal
12. Republic of Togo
13. Republic of Benin
Associations
His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, as of today, is a member or patron of the following organisations in Ghana and abroad;
1. NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL (NPC), member
2. TIJJANIYA MUSLIMS MOVEMENT OF GHANA (TMG), Spiritual Leader
3. GHANA CONFERENCE ON RELIGIONS AND PEACE (GCRP), member
4. RELIGIOUS BODIES NETWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE (RELBONET), member
5. GHANA NATIONAL MEDICAL AWARDS TEAM (1Z GROUP), patron
6. ALFAIDAH INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (ALIF), patron
7. AFRICAN SUPPORT NETWORK (ASN) GHANA, patron
8. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FORUM IN GHANA, to mention just a few.
Awards
His Eminence received the following awards among many others that will be mentioned in his comprehensive autobiography Insha Allah;
Honorary Professorial Degree Award by Poltava University, Ukraine 2019.
Muslims Achievers Award by the Ghana Muslims Achievers Awards, 2018.
Ghana Muslim Students’Association Patron Award, (GMSA) 2018.
Martin Luther King Jnr Award for Peace and Justice by the United States Embassy in Accra. 2016.
Muslims Excellence Award by the Yankasa Assoictaion Inc, USA, 2015.
Northern Achievers Award by the Northern Youth for Development, 2015.
Man of the year Award by the Abnaul faida, Lagos, Nigeria, 2014.
Muslims Personality Award by the Ghana Muslims Award, 2013.
Ghana Most Influential Award, 2nd most influential personality of the year, 2012 by the ETV Ghana. 2013.
Yankasa Man of the Year Award by the Yankasa Association Inc. USA, 2013.
Tijjaniya Muslims Movement Highest Man of Personality Award by the Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana, 2011.
Member of the Star of Volta Award by the Republic of Ghana, 2007.
Member of the Star of Volta Award by the Republic of Ghana, 2006.
Landmarks
1. Brokering of peace between Muslims and indigenes of Hohoe, Volta region in 2012 following a conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
2. Brokering of peace between Muslims and indigenes of Tafo, Ashanti Region and the Muslim youth of the region in 2016 following a conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
3. Gracing of programmes of non-Islamic faiths such as his attendance and honouring of invitations of the Catholic Church during their centenary anniversary in Accra.
4. Brokering of peace between Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Upper East Region following a protracted conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
His Eminence played a key and vital role.
5. Brokering of peace between Muslim youth and the Imams of Nkawkaw, Eastern Region over leadership crisis that resulted in the closure of mosque and the imposition of a curfew by the state security agencies to protect lives and properties.
6. Permission to Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, to finance the painting of the National Mosque in 2011.
Compiled by; Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osmanu
Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Executive Secretary of IPASEC and SONSETFUND Grandson of Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu with the assistance of Ustaz Issah Gibriel Abbas.
On April 20, 2023, Muslims in Ghana broke their fast after seeing the new moon of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan.
Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu spoke to the faithful late on Thursday after confirming the sighting of a new moon.
He clarified that, in accordance with the announcement made this week by the Interior Minister, Muslims will offer the congregational prayers on Saturday, April 22, even though April 21 is the first day of Eid.
“In the exercise of his mandate as the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu has brought us here this evening to announce to us officially about the sighting or otherwise of the new moon of Shawwal marking the end of the month of Ramadan,” his spokesman said.
On the details relative to the sighting of the moon, he stated: “Information that has come to the office of the National Chief Imam indicates that an authenticated information has come from the Ashanti Region with respect to the sighting of the moon, specifically in Kenyasi Troba in the Kwabre East District.”
He said eight people had sighted the moon and made that information available to head of the Hilal (moon) committee of the Imam’s office which information was passed on and acted up by way of the announcement.
“And in this regard, tomorrow (April 21), we are all not going to fast but as officially made known to us through the Chief Imam and the Minister of Interior, we are going to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday (April 22).”
The national prayers is slated for Saturday at 10am, at the Independence Square in Accra.
Meanwhile, some sections of the Muslim community will observe the Eid prayers today, one of the most prominent being by the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamah group. Their prayer is slated for the forecourt of State House.
In honor of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar,Muslimsin Ghana have begun their fast Today, Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, spokesman for the Chief Imam, made the declaration on Wednesday night.
“The report we received and source we are getting from Bawku is that the moon has been sighted at Bawku. This information has been well authenticated based on communication between the Bawku Chief Imam and the office of the Chief Imam.”
“There is no reason to doubt it. On this ground, and by the Chief Imam’s mandate as the supreme leader of Muslims in this country, Muslims will begin fasting on the 23rd of March 2023”, he declared.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It begins with the sighting of the moon.
Fasting in Ramadan involves abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset.
Ramadan for Muslims is a month of reflection, and self-improvement in relation to one’s behaviour toward other people, oneself, and Allah.
It is also a way to show solidarity with millions of poor people who cannot afford a four-square meal.
Muslims begin the fast before the call to the Fajr prayer after they are done with suhoor and fast till the setting of the sun after the call of Maghrib evening prayer.
Children, the elderly, people who are travelling, pregnant women, and people who are suffering from chronic illness are, however, excused from fasting, but they are required to make up the fasting later or compensate by feeding the hungry in proportion to the fast they had missed.
The festival of Eid al-Fitr, also known as the festival of fast-breaking, is observed to mark the completion of Ramadan after the 29 to 30-day fast.
Ghanaian musician Stella Aba Seal spent her recent birthday by visiting the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu for prayers.
Some believers were against the move but she has come out to defend her actions.
Stella in an interview with blogger Zionfelix explained why she settled on an Islamic leader to bless her with long life.
“Is there something wrong with celebrating my birthday with National Chief Imam?… I personally chose him because he’s the oldest spiritual man in Ghana and, I want to live long. We have other religious leaders but they are all young. In their 60s and 70s and I wanted someone who is old and has lived long enough on earth…someone who has seen it all, that was who I wanted to celebrate my birthday with. “I said to myself that I want this man to pray for me. He asked me what I want and I told him long life. I want to live long on this earth and I also asked for wisdom. These are the two things I asked because all other things are by-products,” she said.
Stella Aba Seal lamented how religion, which she described as man-made has divided and brought enmity among the human population.
According to the gospel singer who identifies as a Christian, she is more spiritual than religious adding that God is not religious.
She explained: “I am glad that I did and I don’t regret it…I was so touched by his accessibility. It is so unfortunate how you’ll have to struggle just to see some of these people. You’ll be made to book an appointment and for 2 months you’ll still be in waiting but the Chief Imam, he is accessible. I will love to say that we are first Ghanaians and the Bible makes us understand that we are all descendants of Abraham…I gear towards spirituality because God is not religious. He does not belong to any religion, He created everything on earth. Religion is man-made and it is good.”
The Chief Imam Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu was mentioned by Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International during his 2022 December 31 watchnight service.
It was the second time the name of the Imam had been mentioned during a watchnight service.
Back in 2019, Owusu Bempah prophesied that Sheikh Sharubutu was going to die, which incident resulted in an attack on his church by some violent Muslim youth.
A reconciliation visit happened months later with the Imam publicly forgiving Owusu Bempah. Four years on, Owusu Bempah cited the Chief Imam again (not in a prophecy) but referencing the 2019 incident.
“Whatever I see today, I will proclaim. People refer to my prophecy about the Chief Imam, that I prophesied about him and he is still alive. Do you know what went on between the Chief Imam and I?
“When I was in his bedroom, do you know what went on? Please, if you don’t know; don’t talk against it. Those saying such are kids, they don’t know anything,” he told his congregation in the leadup to the release of his prophecies for 2023.
Witness account to what happened during Bempah’s visit
Speaking on the January 5, 2023 edition of the GTV Breakfast show, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, the spokesman of the Imam gave an account of what happened during Owusu Bempah’s visit.
As to whether the pastor accessed the Chief Imam’s bedroom as he claimed, the spokesperson said: “I don’t know whether he went inside the room,” stressing that he sat through the entire meeting but does not know if a one-on-one discussion took place at any point.
“Owusu Bempah arrived at Chief Imam’s house when Chief Imam had stepped out. He came under the leadership of the late Nuamah Donkor, his mentor under whose care he had lived since he came to Accra.
“I told Pastor Owusu Bempah when I looked at him in the hall, at the time Chief Imam hadn’t arrived, I told him ‘pastor, relax! In this room, nothing will happen to you’…I had to give him assurance … (that) once he is in the Chief Imam’s Hall, no one.
“Chief Imam arrived from his inner chamber and embraced Owusu Bempah and sat him next to him, close,” he added.
When it was time to meet the media, “he held Owusu Bempah’s hand like a small boy,” explaining that the gesture was to send a signal that when you touch him, you touch me.
After the media session, they entered another meeting, where Owusu Bempah didn’t want to talk because his mentor had spoken.
Sheikh Shaibu said it was when the Imam made a statement to the effect that “any incident of this nature has behind it the wisdom of God behind it,” that Owusu Bempah sought for a minute to say a word.
“He said he appreciates the depth of Chief Imam’s wisdom and that from that day he had taken the Chief Imam as his father and from time to time, he would be coming to him for advice, that is exactly what Owusu Bempah said,” the spokesman recounted.
He emphasized that “whether before or after, there had been any one-on-one,” he could not tell.
“Owusu Bempah can still make his prophecies without necessarily mentioning the Chief Imam and in doing so, anytime he does so, it triggers the anger of the generality of Muslims even though the Chief Imam will be forgiving,” he added.
He also cautioned the media against sensationalizing headlines with respect to the Imam’s name citing how some YouTube videos tend to abuse the use of especially his image on content that has nothing to do with him.
Chief Imam’s office cautions Owusu Bempah
The National Chief Imam’s office recently cautioned against pronouncements Owusu Bempah made about him during his 31st December, 2022 watchnight service.
He disclaimed a GhanaWeb report that suggested that he had said the Chief Imam contacted him to look into his destiny.
Personal Assistant to Ghana’s National Chief Imam, Dr. Mohammed Marzuq Abubakar Azindoo, has urged Ghanaians to work on enhancing their maintenance culture.
He noted that historically, country residents have not invested a lot of their time or energy into making sure that the objects entrusted to their care, such buildings, are adequately maintained.
He continued by saying that if simply this facet of Ghanaian life could be adequately improved, it would significantly boost the nation’s production and progress.
Dr. Marzuq Azindoo spoke to GhanaWeb during the inauguration of the Hajia Safia Yakubu Masjid at Adenta.
“It is a very important project and it is important that we all help to maintain it. I believe that the struggle to give is next to the burden to maintain. As you know, in Ghana, we have a very poor maintenance culture and that is why I am not more interested in the construction, but I am rather more interested in the maintenance.
“This is such a pride to all Muslims and it should be a source of productivity for the entire society. Whether the members are Muslims or non-Muslims, this mosque should serve all of them and that is to say, this mosque is not just a mere symbol of religion; it must be a place of worship, an avenue of socialisation and a platform of national unification.
“If we are able to stand by all these values, then definitely, this mosque will be put in a situation that will be productive to the entirety of the Ghanaian population,” he said.
He also explained that it is the hope of the National Chief Imam, Shiekh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, that more and more people contribute to projects of humanitarian nature that will benefit societies.
He also said that it is the hope of the National Chief Imam that mosques will serve more purposes to their societies than merely being places of worship.
“His Eminence the National Chief Imam is a man of humanitarian services and he believes that no matter where we are, we should try as much as possible, to have avenues of humanitarian services and therefore the National Chief Imam expects all Muslims, especially the wealthy ones, to construct any project that will be beneficial to the society.
“The mosque, within the context of religion, is one thing, but beyond religion, the mosque is still a place of productivity to the Muslim community. And that is why His Eminence the National Chief Imam is interested in coming out with any project – not just a mosque, that will be productive to society.
“A mosque, especially in modern societies, cannot be reduced to a mere symbol of worship. In modern societies, we are faced with so many challenges ranging from the cyber world, to the behavioural tendencies of society, and therefore it is up to all centers of worship to find solutions to all these multi-dimensional ills of contemporary societies,” he added.
The Hajia Safia Yakubu Masjid is estimated to have cost between GH¢500,000 to GH¢600,000 and was single-handedly built by Alhaji Saani Mohammed Yakubu, the Country Director of ActionAid, based in Congo DRC.
The founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Apostle Isaac Owusu Bempah, has described as shocking a statement from the office of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Shaributu.
The church said that their attention was initially attracted to a GhanaWeb article in which the head pastor was supposed to have made disparaging words about the Chief Imam in a statement dated Thursday, January 5, 2023 and signed by a Senior Pastor of Glorious Word, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel A. Annorbah.
“To begin with, the press statement arises from a misleading and false article published on https://www.ghanaweb.com on 3 January 2023 with the caption ‘Chief Imam, other leaders visit us to look into their destinies – Owusu Bempah claims’.”
“Our attention was drawn to the misleading caption and false article by https://www.ghanaweb.com in the late afternoon of 3rd January, 2023 when an official from the office of the Chief Imam by the name Sheikh Aremeyaw, spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, called to inform the office of the church of the publication on https://www.ghanaweb.com and sought to ascertain its veracity.
“We explained to Sheikh Aremeyaw, that the caption of the article was misleading and the content littered with falsehoods. We urged the spokesperson to listen to the statement himself and form an independent opinion of the remarks of Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah. The conversation was very friendly and he seemed to have appreciated the position of the church on the misleading caption and false article by https://www.ghanaweb.com,” the statement.
The Chief Imam’s Office requested that the Inspector General of Police summon Apostle Bempah for making Sheikh Shaributu the focus of contentious prophesies in a statement on January 4.
The Church, however, responded to the remark by saying it was somewhat surprising that the Chief Imam’s Office had made such an offensive statement despite the earlier clarification.
“It comes as a shock to us that despite the cordiality and harmony which exists between the office of the National Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah and after all assurances given by us, the former issued a strong worded press statement with very unpleasant descriptions of Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah.
“We wish to state emphatically that Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah has not at anytime claimed that the Chief Imam visits or consults him to look into his destiny. The publication was clearly actuated by malice, a desire for profit, sensationalism, and calculated to disrupt the peaceful and cordial relationship between the Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah,” it added.
Read the full statement by Owusu Bempah’s church below:
The National Chief Imam’s office strongly disagrees with a claim made by Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, the head pastor of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International, that he looks to him for spiritual protection.
He contends that the allegations are false and ought to be utterly disregarded by all sincere Ghanaians.
In a press release on Wednesday, January 4, the office said the Chief Imam does not seek spiritual protection from “charlatans on the pulpit.”
Therefore, it has requested assistance from the Christian community and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to prevent Reverend Owusu Bempah from issuing any more contentious and erroneous prophecies regarding His Eminence, Shiekh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu.
“We wish to state that all the claims of Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah contain no iota of truth, but represent the figment of his own imagination.
“Undoubtedly, His Eminence is a champion of interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence. But he does not seek protection and prosperity from charlatans on the pulpit.”
“Conclusively, we stand – at all times – for interfaith solidarity and national unity, as we contribute our quota to the building of a prosperous democratic state of diverse religious communities.
According to reports, Rev. Owusu Bempah on December 31, 2022, during his church’s watch night session stated that the National Chief Imam turns to him for spiritual protection.
On December 8, 2022, videos depicting a sick Asuma Banda, one of Ghana’s wealthiest businessman and formerly thought to be the richest man in the nation, began to circulate on social media.
Banda is said to be on admission at the 37 Military Hospital under the care of his second wife even though his family have recently been pushing that he be sent to Kintampo for care.
According to a recent Rainbow Radio online reportage, two sisters of Asuma Banda claim that their brother has expressly requested that he be sent to Kintampo for care.
The sisters on December 7, 2022 told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that they were seeking the intervention of the president, office of the former president and the Chief Imam to resolve custody issues around their brother.
”We know the court has ruled in favour of the second wife. But he is our beloved family member. We acknowledge what his two wives have done for him. We will not be ungrateful to them.
“But our brother has requested to go to Kintampo. And so we are appealing to the president to intervene,” they said in apparent reference to the second wife’s reluctance to allow him to be moved.
The sisters revealed that except for Tuesday, December 6, 2022, we have not seen our brother in the past five years, the Rainbow Radio report added.
”We are still appealing to friends, the business community, and all those who know our brother to intervene. The court has ruled, but we are interested in making our brother better.
“John Mahama knows my brother so well. Nana Addo was his good friend. I am also appealing to Frema Opare to intervene. The two wives are tired, and we want to take over as his sisters,” Hajia Shatta said.
The decision, in the opinion of President Akufo-Addo, is a positive move that will significantly enhance ties between Muslims and the State and assure the peaceful coexistence of all Muslims in Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed great delight in the decision of all the Islamic sects in Ghana to unite under one corporate body to be known has the National Muslim Conference (NMC), describing the move as apt.
The decision according to President Akufo-Addo is a welcoming development that will go a long way toguarantee the peaceful co-existence of all Muslims in Ghana and improve relations between Muslims and the State.
Addressing a delegation of all Muslim sects in Ghana led by the Chief Imam, Shiekh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, at the Jubilee House on Tuesday 4 October 2022, when they paid a courtesy call on him to formally announce the formation of the NMC, President Akufo-Addo, said the development is one that is worth emulating by other religious groupings in the country.
“It is extremely important what has happened here the [Jubilee House] today. The country is being told that all the key Muslim sects, Tijjaniya, Sunnī, Shīʿa, and Ahmadiyya, have all come together under one organization to represent the Muslim community, be its mouthpiece and to be its representative, and deal with the State and the government at all levels in this corporate form” President Akufo-Addo said.
“This is very happy news and I am very happy about what has happened here today. In the Christian community,there are three different organizations, there is the Catholic Conference, there is the Christian Council and there is the Charismatic and Pentecostal Council. They have not come under one grouping yet but you have, so, we have to congratulate you on being able to do that” the President added.
Mr Alex Quaynor, the Chairman of the Lands Commission, Mr Alex Quaynor, has led a delegation from the Commission to pay a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, at his residence at Fadama, Accra.
The call was to ask for his blessings as the Commission embarks on a sensitisation campaign on the provisions of the Lands Act 2020 (Act 1036), which governs land administration in the country.
The Commission has identified traditional authorities and the clergy as major stakeholders in educating the public on the new legislation.
The Chairman expressed joy for the opportunity and said the Commission had presence in all the 16 regions of Ghana and responsible for registering land titles in the Greater Accra Region and parts of the Ashanti Region.
Mr James Dadson, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, explained the structure of the Commission, which has four divisions, comprising the Survey and Mapping, Public and Vested Land Management, Land Valuation, and the Land Registration divisions.
Section 12 of the Land Act had criminalised the activities of “land guardsâ€, he said, and that both the sponsor and the land guard committed an offence and could be persecuted and jailed for a term of not less than five years and not more than 15 years.
Therefore, it was imperative for land owners to be abreast of the provisions in the Act and be guided in their land dealings, adding that the Act was one sure way of bringing sanity into the land market.
Mr Dadson said the public engagement was to ensure free flow of information to every segment of society and called for cooperation to make the exercise successful.
The delegation presented 10 copies of the Lands Act to the Chief Imam.
The personalities in the team include the Chairperson of the Greater Accra Lands Commission, Mrs Yvonne Sowah, the Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Operations, Mr Benjamin Arthur, the Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer, Mr Timothy Anyidoho, and Acting Director of Survey and Mapping, Naa Abdullah Abubakari.
The others are the Head of Human Resource, Mr Evans Mamphey, Mr Richard Owusu Afoakwah, the Acting Director, PVLMD, Head of Procurement, Mr Randy Glymin, and Mr Michael Appiah, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation.
The National Chief Imam expressed excitement over the gesture and assured the delegation that he would do his best to ensure that the Lands Act was explained to the Muslim Community at the different mosques.
Mr Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaib, the Spokesperson to the Chief Imam, expressed gratitude to the delegation and pledged support towards the sensitisation of the Muslim Community.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Naa Iddi Lansah Seidu has called on Imams, chiefs and opinion leaders in the Zongo communities to lead the fight against drug trafficking and consumption in Zongo communities.
According to him, drug trafficking and consumption was so high in Zongo communities in the region, explaining that the situation has been identified as the root cause of violence and insecurity in such communities.
He said the usage of narcotics drugs by some of the youth from the Zongo communities emboldened them to engage in violence, describing them as “conflict mechants”.
Conference
DCOP Naa Seidu who is also a divisional chief of the Sing Traditional Area in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region said this in an interview with Graphic Online on the sidelines of a conference on conflict prevention and management for chiefs, Imams, magajiyas (women leaders) and youth in Zongo communities in the Greater Accra Region at the National Mosque on Thursday, April 14, 2022.
The conference was on the theme: “Peace and Security in Zongo communities- changing the narrative.” It was organised by the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF), which would be replicated across the country.
Consumption of narcotics drug
DCOP Naa Seidu attributed the use of the youth from the Zongo communities in the issues of land and chieftaincy disputes to the high consumption and trade in narcotics drugs in the Zongo communities.
Arrest
He said since he took over as the Police Chief of the Accra Region, he has been able to arrest 700 compressed parcels of Indian Hemp.
He explained that in many instances, narcotic drugs arrested by the police are often meant to be sold in the Zongo communities, stressing that names on such parcels are always people living in Madina, Newtown and Mamobi.
DCOP Naa Seidu noted that whenever the Command conducts swoops in the ghettos and slum areas, majority of those arrested were from the Zongos.
For him, what emboldens the youth from the Zongos to involve themselves in deviant activities, including landguard were as a result of the consumption of the narcotic drugs.
Solution
He therefore called on community leaders, particularly the Imams and chiefs in the Zongo communities to educate and sensitise the youth to desist from the consumption of narcotic drugs and rather focus on their education.
DCOP Naa Seidu who also identified himself as a Zongo person said “if we want to change the narrative about our Zongo communities then we must tackle the issue of drug trafficking and consumption within our communities”.
He said in the previous past people from the Zongo communities were seen as honest and truthful but now “same cannot be said about us because in every five persons you will arrest, at least three out of them will be people from the Zongo communities.”
He lauded the ZDF for initiating the training programme aimed at changing the narrative and to erase public perception of the Zongos as communities plagued by violence and insecurity.
He called on the fund to sustained the initiative to help restore the Zongos to its past glory as communities of peaceful and law abiding people.
Mali’s interim legislative body, the National Transition Council, has been hit by the first resignation barely a week after its installation.
Imam Oumarou Diarra, a close ally to the influential Imam Mahmoud Dicko, submitted his resignation on Tuesday in a letter to President Bah Ndaw.
In the letter, he said the council does not meet his expectations.
His appointment to the council had sparked controversy in his June 5 Movement, which had boycotted the body.
The BBC’s Lalla Sy says the resignation highlights the lack of consultations in the choice of council members, some of whom had shown no willingness to be part of it.
The Muslim community in Ghana has reignited a long-held matter of interest with regards to the harmonisation of the Muslim marriage law and inheritance, with an appeal to President Akufo-Addo to help in reaching a favourable conclusion even as discussions on the matter continue at the Attorney General and Justice Ministry.
The help, according to the National Chief Imam who spoke through his spokesperson, Sheikh Arimeyawo Shaibu, “will make the Muslim community very happyâ€.
The harmonisation if concluded, will link Islamic law on marriage with inheritance as enshrined in Islamic tradition.
The harmonisation will, therefore, make it automatic for an inheritance to be shared using the tradition of the religion.
Currently, people marry under Islamic law but in the event of death, laws that are alien to Islamic traditions are invoked and used to distribute properties.
The harmonisation is expected to cure that anomaly within the Muslim community in Ghana.
National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu has called on political parties to avoid tendencies that have the potential of jeopardising the peaceful atmosphere in Ghana even as they prepare for the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Addressing a virtual Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at the studio of GBC, the National Chief Imam speaking through his spokesperson Shiek Aremeyaw Shaibu, also urged the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to work towards a free, fair, and peaceful elections.
Even as government prepares to announce final roadmap to easing of remaining Covid-19 restrictions, the National Chief Imam used the occasion to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to consider disinfecting the mosques, churches and other places of worship before people are allowed in.
This according to him will stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The lockdown and restriction on social gathering according to the National Chief Imam, has “taught Muslims how to focus on the substance of worship of their Makerâ€.
In a trademark fashion, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu said a prayer for the country, the president, the vice president, as well as all Ghanaians in and outside the country.
Popular Ghanaian media personality, Andrea Owusu who is known in showbiz as Efia Odo has called on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu.
Efia Odo used the visit to make some donations to the Islamic leader and also to receive some blessings from him.
Taking to her Instagram handle, Efia Odo shared some photos and video from her visit with the caption;
“Went to give donations to The Chief Imam towards Ramadan💙â€
National Chief Imam Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu has suspended public Islamic religious activities and gathering to complement the government’s measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
According to the Chief Imam, the said suspension is in line with President Akufo-Addo’s ban on all social gatherings including funerals, festivals, all religious activities, conferences and all other events that call for a mass gathering of people.
Henceforth, the Leader of the Muslim daily prayer (Salat) known as the Muezzin will announce call to prayer to commence individual prayers at various homes.
The Chief Imam in a statement noted that the restriction of public gathering is in accordance with protocols enshrined in the Quran to preserve and ensure healthy lives.
