From left Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Ishak, Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan and Dr. Zagoon Sayeed
International diplomat and lawyer Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has urged professionals who excel in their fields to remain connected to their communities in order to inspire younger generations.
Speaking last Saturday at the launch of Dare To Say…The Islamic Influence in Ghana – a collection of speeches and rejoinders by the late Dr. Alhassan Mohammed, Dr. Chambas said successful individuals have a responsibility to serve as role models for the youth.
The event was held at the Kanda National Mosque in Accra.
Paying glowing tribute to the late Dr. Mohammed, a renowned academic from the Zongo community, Dr. Chambas described him as a man of humility who never lost touch with his roots.
Dr. Mohammed rose through the ranks to become Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and later served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia after his retirement.
Dr. Chambas recalled how the late economist overcame a challenging childhood. His father, who worked as a driver for the Chief Justice of the Gold Coast, was encouraged by his employer to educate his children despite opposition from neighbours.
That decision, he noted, paid off, as both Dr. Mohammed and his younger brother, Alhaji Gado, went on to excel in their respective careers.
“One of the defining traits of the late banker and economist was his humility. He remained close to his community,” Dr. Chambas remarked.
The book launch, which attracted prominent members of the Zongo community, raised over GH¢200,000 through the auction of copies.
Proceeds of the auction and book sales will go towards completing a mosque and library project initiated by the late Dr. Mohammed before his passing a year ago.
Dr. Haruna Zagoon Sayeed, who reviewed the book, described it as a unique body of work reflecting the thoughts of a man deeply rooted in the Islamic community, unlike other works often written by outsiders.
Alhaji Baba Sheriff Abdulai, CEO of Marhaba Media, highlighted Dr. Mohammed’s pivotal role in the acquisition and construction of the Kanda National Mosque. The first copy of the book was purchased by Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim for GH¢30,000.
Born in 1932 in Adabraka, Accra, Dr. Mohammed attended Accra Academy, St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, and the University of Ghana. He later obtained his PhD in Ukraine and authored the publication Determination and Conflict in a Muslim Society.