We were appalled to learn that the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Nuhu
Osman Sharabutu, the biggest gun in the Muslim arsenal in Ghana, who would have
wished to be part of such an unprecedented historic occasion, the pouring of the
nation’s first commercial oil in Takoradi on Wednesday, 15th December 2010 –
which will never repeat itself –, was disgracefully shunned. The explanation
that the nonagenarian did not meet the criteria was quite unfortunate. The
spiritual leader is fit as a fiddle, runs errands across the length and breadth
of the country and travels abroad. This is not too much to wonder. This has made
our profound religious leader dejected. His absence in the national programme
generated a lot of worries and questions in the Muslim communities in Ghana and
abroad. Our neighbouring country like Nigeria was equally shocked about the
cleric’s absence. This clearly shows our president’s animosity towards our
spiritual leader in disguise. This unfortunate situation and many more strongly
indicate Mills-Mahama led administration’s prejudice against the point person.
The president office’s vehemently defended itself for not inviting the clergy
due to ‘long’ distance. How long does it take one to traveled from the Greater
Accra to the Western Region?
We could see an opaque relationship between the current NDC government and the
Muslims in Ghana lately.
The office of the president’s excuse and explanation do not hold waters.
There are more cardinal questions to the president office’s action or inaction.
We would very much like to know why the Mills-Mahama led administration rarely
invite our spiritual leaders to the Osu Castle to also offer their prayers and
blessings to the nation as such opportunity is granted to the other religious
divide. The father for all slogan President Mills has been trumpeting loud is
practically deficient. This is not in the best interest of a nation with a great
population of Muslims. These are clear indications that the current president,
Professor Atta Mills, is strangely going against Muslims. In fact, he has
developed deep reservations for the people from the Zongo community.
The Mills-Mahama led government has not done enough for us but only use the
Zongo people to strategically play its high political card. It’s widely known
that the NDC political party in electioneering period scoops the good and
hardworking people from the Zongo communities for their political agenda and
later bin them after achieving the objectives.
For the purpose of refreshing our memories, on Friday, 28th March 2008 the nasty
incident created at the residence of the National Chief Imam Sheikh Nuhu
Sharabutu’s residence at Fadama in Accra, this even caused him a headache. This
was an ugly spectacle ignited by the supporters of the NDC on the NPP
supporters, who were angry about their path being blocked when they were
returning from an NDC mini rally at Fadama with the NDC leader, then candidate
Atta Mills, and got to the front of the Chief Imam’s office where the NPP
presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, had just completed paying a courtesy
call on the Moslem leader.
The Wednesday, 15th December 2010, grand and historic ceremony could have been
used by the president to salute the point person for such abhorrible behaviour.
Nasara Club, NPP
New York
