Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu
The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) has asked government to stop meddling in religious affairs as it is against the tenets of the 1992 Constitution which bars it from sponsoring or promoting religious activities.
According to the group, there are other pertinent issues of more importance to Ghanaians than building a national cathedral and sponsoring Muslims on their annual Hajj pilgrimage.
A statement signed by Sheikh Dr. Al-Hussien Zakaria, President of COMOG, said that it was about time government handed over the organisation of Hajj pilgrimage in the country to Ghanaian Muslims.
It particularly criticised the decision of the Akufo-Addo-led government to build a multi-million and multi-purpose national cathedral as part of Ghana’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
According to the statement, “For more than a decade now, COMOG has continually insisted on the need for government to relinquish its stake in the organisation of Hajj and allow Muslims to handle the pilgrimage as a purely private spiritual exercise. While our efforts continue to achieve this goal, we were startled by the meddling of government in yet another religious endeavour – the construction of a cathedral”.
The decision of the current government to construct a national cathedral has drawn wild criticisms from all quarters with many describing it as a misplaced priority.
Government has already declared its intention to demolish some buildings including residence of Appeal Court judges, passport office, and judicial training institute, among others, to make way for the cathedral.
A private citizen has already filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the constitutionality of the move and the case is yet to be determined by the Apex Court.
The COMOG is not against the construction of a cathedral. However, the group thinks it should be done by Christians in Ghana without government’s involvement or sponsorship.
“The level of involvement of the government of Ghana over the past years in the organisation of Hajj and the intended construction of the cathedral constitute state sponsorship and promotion of Islam and Christianity respectively. In a secular nation with multiple faiths, this promotion of Islam and Christianity constitutes an affront to the letter and spirit of the constitution of Ghana which bars the state from any promotion or sponsorship of religious activities”, the statement added.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak