My attention has been drawn to a news story on Ghanaweb with the above title, which is in reference to Sam George Nettey’s allegation that Akufo-Addo was in celebratory mood at Aliu Mahama’s funeral last year. It is obvious that the NDC take Ghanaians for fools. Renowned Muslims since Aliu’s funeral last year have come out to state that Islamic culture and tradition is not Akan culture. In spite of that education, the NDC still insists on peddling falsehood about Akufo-Addo.
During Aliu’s funeral last year, prominent Muslims like National Chief Imam, Maulvi Wahab Adam and Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama all wore white. Does it mean that they too were in a celebratory mood? Or Sam George Nettey now knows Islam better than Shaykh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and Maulvi Wahab Adam? Anyway for the avoidance of doubt, here is the relevant authority by which Muslims are encouraged to wear white on all occasions, including at funerals.
On the authority of Abdallah Ibn Abbas, the Prophet said: “Wear your white garments, for your white garments are amongst your best garments and shroud your dead in it.” And this is reported in three of the most canonical works of Islam: Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
So it was within the traditions of Islam for Akufo-Addo to wear white just as the National Chief Imam and many prominent Muslim clerics on that day wore white. That situation cannot be compared with President Mahama wearing white on the day of the Supreme Court ruling.
The two scenarios are completely different. In Ghana it is customary for us to wear white when we are in celebratory mood. And that is what Mahama did which raised eye brows and justifiably so.
*Albert Adamu*
