Ahlussuna Wal Jama’a would remain neutral in politics-Shiekh Abban

Sheikh Yacoub Shuaib Abban, General Secretary of Ahlussuna Wal Jama’a, on Friday said the sect would remain neutral and not be drawn into the country’s partisan politics.

He called on major stakeholders in politics to reject intemperate language which could lead to violence during Election 2012.

Sheikh Abban made the pledge at a press conference in Accra.

He said Ghana had suffered “so much polarization” which was dangerous and stressed the need to collectively work for the common good of the country.

Sheikh Abban noted that education and poverty were the major problems facing Muslims in Ghana, adding, “We can surmount poverty only when we direct our energies towards education”.

He said it was time for Muslims to find permanent solutions to the educational and poverty issues and suggested that government takes an initiative to bring together a strong and credible non-partisan group of stakeholders in the educational sector, to draw a comprehensive National Education Policy which could stand the test of time, with a definite renewable date which could not be reversed by any political party to ensure stability in the system.

Sheik Abban noted that despite the fact that Ghana was a secular State, some heads of public institutions and Government Assisted Secondary Schools had refused to respect the religious rights of Muslim students.

He advised politicians to let their claim of service to the people reflect in their statements and actions, adding that it was the least they could do to support religious groups in the country.

Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, Chief Imam of Ahlussuna Wal Jama’a, said insults should completely be erased from politics in Ghana, adding, “Ghanaians need peace to go about their daily routine chores".

He said the Muslim youth should be upgraded with skills and knowledge to keep them from trouble.

Sheikh Ibrahim noted that the Islamic Education Unit was the best office to be used by government to promote education in the Muslim community and called on government to support the Unit.**