Muslims in Koforidua smoke peace pipe

Koforidua, Aug 28, GNA - Factions on the side of the Eastern Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Amdani Yusif, and the Spiritual Leader (Mufti), Sheikh Ahmed Tijani, have smoked the peace pipe after several years of misunderstanding and intra-faith division. As a mark of the peace brokered by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and the Zongo Peace Council, the annual "Tafsir," which is the reciting of the Holy Koran by the Mufti once during every Ramadan period, was performed on Thursday at the Central Mosque in Koforidua with all the two sides present without any confrontation As a result of violence that characterized prayers at the mosque due to the misunderstanding, a police team led by the Municipal Commander, Superintendent of Police John Naami was positioned at vantage points in the area to forestall any eventuality but they had nothing to do as proceedings ended in peace.

It would be recalled that a misunderstanding broke out in the Muslim community in the region when the Chief Imam was alleged to have been taking alcohol, an act deemed abominable in the Muslim community, particularly to be associated with a prayer leader.

Consequently factions of the Mufti demanded the removal of the Imam and his refusal to step down led to violence in the Mosque. The Municipal Security Committee (MUNSE) later sought a court order to close the central mosque until the issue had been resolved. To save the image of the Muslim community in the area, the National Chief Imam and the Muslim Council intervened to have the mosque opened but since then a faction of the Mufti had boycotted the Friday prayers led by the Imam.

That faction contended that until the Imam was cleared of the allegations, he was not fit to lead them in prayers. Alhaji Ahmed Zakaria, chairman of the Zongo Peace Council who brokered the peace, thanked the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Baba Jamal, for the able manner in which they handled the issue to bring peace to the Muslim community.

He said the Muslim Council had tried on several occasions to resolve the impasse but to no avail and extended gratitude to both factions for softening their stands thus paving way for peace to prevail once again in the Muslim community.

Mr Babal Jamal, who was at the mosque to observe the Tafsir, told the gathering that the division had only compounded the problems of the Muslim community, especially in the area of education and advised them not to allow such petty squabbles to divide their front. He stressed that no development could go on in the face of violence and division and urged them to remain pure and holy as they observed the Ramadan to prove to people that Islam was a religion of peace. Later prayers were said for the leadership of the nation and for peace throughout the nation.