Nii Noi Adumuah
A social media SOS from an Imam at Ashieye near Adenta, Accra, to Muslims to come to his assistance as a local mosque he heads is on the verge of being shut down on the orders of a court, has gone viral.
The impression among some Moslems who have listened to the audio of the Imam is that Moslems are being denied their right to practise their faith – a thought which could pitch members of the faith against law enforcement agents or even threaten inter-faith harmony.
The municipal chief executive (MCE) of Adenta has denied the claim by the Imam, wondering how Muslims can be stopped from practising their faith.
The Imam, who mentioned his name as Abdulkarim, said in the audio that he had been dragged to court over what according to him, the authorities claim is the high decibel level of the speakers used to call Moslems to prayer at the mosque.
In court he claimed that he was asked to produce a permit authorizing the use of the facility as a mosque – something he said sounded unusual because he has never heard about such a permit authorizing the use of a structure as a mosque.
Failure to produce such a permit on the next court date, he said, could lead to the closing down of the facility hence, his call to members of his faith to rally round him to ensure that that does not happen.
The imam’s SOS coming against the backdrop of the recent call by Science, Environment and Innovation Minister, Prof Frimpong Boateng, for Moslems to replace the traditional call to prayer in Islam – otherwise called Azhan – with social media or WhatsApp, has caused disquiet among the youth of the faith across the country, some of who it would seem, are being incited by the social media message.
A concerned citizen who has joined in the efforts to reverse the situation claims in a statement that some persons with links to government want to undermine Islam in the country, accusing the Adenta Municipal Assembly (AdMA) of using a court to have their speakers pulled down.
“As if not satisfied by the pulling down of the speakers, the AdMA was at court again and the presiding judge issued a directive that the Mosque be closed down until a permit is produced,” Abdulkarim said.
His audio, which somebody said was sent to him from Nigeria, has him saying that he has been dragged to court over the call to prayer using the external speakers.
He asked whether one needs a permit to build and pray in a mosque in the country. “Let all who hear his audio spread the message and whoever has the means of reversing our predicament let them intervene. Let all Muslims stand up against this situation. We have been asked to provide a permit authorizing us to use the facility as a mosque on the next court date, failing which the mosque would be shut down,” the Imam charged.
……MCE Expresses Surprise At ‘Twisted Story’
The MCE, Nii Noi Adumuah, has expressed surprise at the development. According to him, “I am told it’s all over the place, twisted and flavoured!
“The basic facts presented to me are that
residents within the Fulani area at Ashiyie reported noise nuisance in their area to the Municipal Environment, Sanitation and Health Officer and he had his team investigate the matter. They realized, yes, indeed, there was excessive noise coming from there. The person they dealt with is called ‘sheikh.’ He had other activities other than the mosque activities there. He was informed of the findings and warned to abate the noise. He ignored all the several warnings.
“Subsequently, he was processed for court, NOT because of religious activities. No!”
(There are several mosques at Ashieye operating and worshipping.)
In court it came to light that he was operating an NGO at the premises and the NGO was NOT a legal entity. It was NOT registered. He did not also have a permit for the building/premises being used as a mosque, a school and also being used as office(s) and centre for the NGO activities.
His activities were not known to the municipal assembly, this paper was told.
The court then asked him to stop his NGO (and school) activities until they are properly registered by the state to operate, and also by the assembly (through the community development department). Abdulkarim was also to ensure that he obtains a permit on/for his building.
“These are the basic or bare facts of the case. It has nothing to do with religion and nothing to do with clamping down on Muslims. Far from that!
So, this is the story. I have told (indeed, instructed) my officers that we shall use the law courts to give meaning to the bye-laws of this assembly. One of these laws is living and operating within the national permissible noise levels to give our working citizens some peace of mind. The target really is the night clubs and drinking spots,” Nii Noi Adumuah stressed.
By A.R. Gomda