Sheikh Umar Ibrahim
The leadership crisis within Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah (ASWAJ) Ghana has taken another turn following the reported removal of Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam as National Imam and the appointment of Sheikh Ibrahim Baasha as his interim replacement.
On November 4, the National Da’wah Council (NADAC) of ASWAJ announced that it had passed a vote of no confidence in Sheikh Umar, with 21 members reportedly supporting the decision and four absent. The council cited alleged constitutional violations and misconduct.
The following day, NADAC announced Sheikh Baasha’s appointment as Interim National Imam pending the election of a substantive officeholder.
Sheikh Baasha accepted the appointment at Masjid Al Bayan in Tamale, describing the position as an Amanah, or trust before Allah. He called for patience, mutual respect and adherence to the ASWAJ Constitution.
However, Sheikh Umar has rejected his removal and insists that he remains the legitimate National Imam. Speaking at a press conference on November 10, he reaffirmed his position as the leader of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and maintained that nobody has the authority to remove him. He has also insisted that he has done nothing wrong in the discharge of his duties and rejected allegations of leadership failure or mismanagement.
Dr. Mohammed Bashir Adam, Chairman of NADAC, has also challenged the removal. In a public statement, he said: “As chairman of NADAC, I have not summoned any meeting to discuss the National Imam, and I have not also authorised anybody to convene this meeting whatsoever.”
He questioned the authority behind the decision and raised concerns about ongoing court proceedings and an alleged injunction.
The dispute follows years of internal disagreements over leadership succession, elections and constitutional authority, with its roots dating back to 2017.
Meanwhile, another statement read by Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan reaffirmed support for Sheikh Umar, declaring: “The National Imam of Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’ah of Ghana is Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam. He was the chosen one from the day Ahlu Sunnah came together and he is still the leader and he will continue to be the leader.”
Amid the growing divisions, senior ASWAJ figure Sheikh Yusuf Umar Jallo has called for understanding and reconciliation. He acknowledged, however, that bringing the two factions together for dialogue may be difficult, given the apparent unwillingness of both sides to sit down and resolve their differences.
With competing positions over the removal and interim appointment, the question of who legitimately leads ASWAJ Ghana remains unresolved. The organisation now faces the challenge of finding common ground through dialogue, constitutional processes and the courts.