Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu
The Office of the National Chief Imam has taken exception to individuals and entities writing petitions to government in the name of the office without express authorisation.
In a disclaimer, the office especially pointed at recent petitions about the Hajj, which were sent to the government in the name of the office.
Those who engage in this illegal enterprise risk being made to face the full rigours of the law, the statement warned.
“It would be recalled that the National Chief Imam presented a deed jointly signed by him and the National Imams of all the Muslim sects to the Government of Ghana on October 4, 2022 at the Jubilee House indicating that the National Muslim Conference of Ghana shall be the official mouthpiece of all Muslims in dealing with all organs of Government,” said the statement.
“Any Muslim Group or individuals who wish to present a petition to Government in the name of the National Chief Imam should do so through the National Muslim Conference of Ghana with the blessing of the Advisory Board of the Office of the National Chief Imam,” the statement stressed.
The office was quick to however add that, “this should not be misconstrued to be a ‘gag order’ meant to stifle activism. It should rather be understood as a mechanism to consolidate, among the Muslim fraternity, the values of unity, harmony, transparency and sincerity in dealing with Government on matters of public policy.”
Following the recent dissolution of the Hajj Taskforce which managed the last annual pilgrimage and the appointment of a new Chairman in the person of Alhaji Tanko Abdul Rauf, petitions have been sent to the government some of them using the name of the Office of the National Chief Imam without the express authorisation of the office.