Rev Owusu Bempah with the Chief Imam
Rev Dr. Isaac Owusu-Bempah, founder of the Glorious Word Prayer Ministries International Church, yesterday met the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu at his residence at Fadama, Accra to mend the broken fences following the former’s death prophesies and the accompanying reaction from some Muslim youth.
When he told the Chief Imam during the interaction that “you are my father,” he appeared to have pressed the appropriate button to mend a broken fence, as the conference reverberated to a chant of Allahu Akbar to wit ‘God is great’ from the many youth and old alike who were eagerly following the unfolding development.
The presentation of a white cow by the guest sealed the reconciliation move, having attracted the attention of the many eyewitnesses at the residence of the Chief Imam.
In a spirit of reconciliation, the host and guest first met behind closed doors for a preliminary tete-a-tete away from the prying eyes of the media before proceeding to the conference room within the cleric’s residence.
Rev Owusu-Bempah told his host that “following what transpired recently and the subsequent threat to peace, you intervened quickly; intervention which doused the fire. My entourage and I are here therefore to express our gratitude to you for the wonderful gesture.”
Perhaps what shook the conference room was Rev Owusu-Bempah’s revelation that he was going to ask the police to discontinue the case against the youth, who descended upon the Odorkor Branch of his church in the wake of the controversial prophecies.
“President Akufo-Addo and many others, including the Chief of Staff Madam Frema Osei Opare, Madam Amma Busia, and some leading personalities of the NDC and NPP called and counseled me. The President especially asked me to ensure that nothing is done to disturb the relationship between the two faiths of Christianity and Islam,” he said to the delight of the gathering.
When it got to the turn of the National Chief Imam to speak, he welcomed his guests and stated that “God moves in ways which are beyond the comprehension of man. But for what had happened recently, I would not have known Rev Bempah. When negative things transpire, we as humans do not understand them but the positive turn of events when they occur are all God’s makings.”
The Chief Imam continued “We, as humans, are from the same root, regardless of our ethnic groupings. When God makes reference to man he does not differentiate between ethnic groups. God created us into various ethnic groups so that we would know each other.”
Rev Owusu-Bempah, who pleaded to talk once more, said “when an elder speaks, nobody does so again but the Chief Imam’s remarks have so touched me that I think I must breach the rule and express joy at the quality of his intervention. I hope that we would build on the new found relationship of unity that has been started today. This would not be our last visit to the Chief Imam.”
There was a heightened security provided by both the military and the police at the location.
The entourage of Rev Owusu-Bempah included Samuel Numah Donkor, Mr. Sani, a chartered accountant and another person.
Joining the Chief Imam were his spokesperson, Shiekh Aremeyaw Shaibu, the head of his advisory board, Alhaji Mohammed Gado, Sheikh Amin Bonsu and Sheikh Taufik Jamal Baba.
By A.R. Gomda