“I believe that inasmuch as religion is functional and helps us to cope with the uncertainties of life, so is it dysfunctional. Religion is a double edged sword that can also be invoked for destructive purposes.  Consequently I urge all Ghanaian Muslims to be weary of ideologues that may pervert a beautiful religion like Islam for selfish and destructive ends,” he added.

Speaking at the Eid ul Fitr celebration at the Independence square in Accra on Monday, the President further urged Muslims to strive to ensure peaceful co-existence.

The Eid celebration is a day set aside to mark the end of a 30-day fasting by Muslims, and also begins the month of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar.

President Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to explain to the Muslim community some of government’s initiatives aimed at empowering Muslims in the country.

He told them about the establishment of the Ministry of Zongos and Inner Cities Development, which he was hopeful will help ensure that Muslims also enjoyed the national cake.

“We have lived our manifesto commitment to appoint first a minister responsible for Zongo and Inner Cities Development. I encourage all zongo residents and persons of inner cities to participate in this consultative forum, and contribute ideas that will enable us fashion out a blue print that will be acceptable and practicable, which will inure to the benefit of all people in zongos and inner cities,” he added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Beware of religious extremists – Akufo-Addo advises Muslims appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Presenting the items at the office of the National Chief Imam in Accra, the National Sales Manager for Soft Drinks and Water (Kasapreko), Samuel W. Awuku-Darko, said the move was to strengthen the relationship with the entire Muslim community as well show appreciation for their enormous support for Awake’s One4Life project.

“With Awake’s One4Lyf project, percentage amount of each bottle sold to the consumer goes to the National Cardiothoracic centre, Korle-Bu, to support needy patients who would have to undergo heart surgery. The initiative has so far saved 17 lives of which some are Muslims, and we are proud of the feat he said.”

Brands Manager at Kasapreko, Chris Addo-Sarkodie, added that, Kasapreko soft drinks department will soon role out key strategic programs which will support activities within Muslim communities.

National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, applauded the One4Life initiative, and commended Kasapreko Company and Dr. Kwabena Adjei (Group Chairman) for the great service to the needy with heart problems.

Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, Spokesperson to the National Chief Imam who received the donation expressed appreciation for the gesture.
–
By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kasapreko’s Awake Water donates to national chief Imam for Eid al-Fitr appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

SONSETFUND was set up by the National Chief Imam to complement government’s efforts at providing quality education for the deprived, marginalized in the country’s Zongo communities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RlsQyDs7VG7nIwCtY0shUoziA5ppByEk”]Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim, the Chairman of SONSETFUND and the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS), speaking at the event in Accra, said that education should not be a privilege for a few that can afford in society.

“Rather it should be a right for every child of school going age from primary to tertiary level hence the need for SONSETFUND.”

He said the Foundation was supporting the students with an amount of GH¢35,000.00 to be shared among the beneficiaries.

Sheikh Ibrahim said those students who had gone through their secondary education and had gained admission to tertiary institutions but without financial support would be major beneficiaries.

He said this would bring down the numbers of school drop-outs in the Muslim communities, adding that, the establishment of Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools by the Chief Imam would enable Muslims to acquire secular education better.

The Chairman expressed his appreciation to all institutions and their strategic partners who supported them to ensure these students make a mark in their lives and society at large.

The Sudanese Ambassador, Babikir Elsiddig M. Elamin, expressed enthusiasm for the effort of the Chief Imam to ensure that Ghana has a literate Muslim community.

He said Muslims in Sudan are engaged in such initiatives, and therefore pledged his support to such projects.

The Chief Imam also advised the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously because they have been selected among the many applicants, saying “this shows you are blessed, so work hard and you would achieve your aim.”

The supporting institutions in their solidarity messages entreated the beneficiaries to make good use of the money they had received to sustain the foundation.

–

Source: GNA

The post Chief Imam awards 19 students scholarship appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, in a Citi News interview, claimed that the 14-member committee chaired by Sheikh IC Quaye was partisan and devoid of the Chief Imam’s input.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4rHE1NGc5bYhECC8Fhnpp1B37mXsfdnz”]But reacting to the allegations, spokesperson for the National Hajj Board, Abdulai Rahman Alhassan Gomda said the Chief Imam had been in consultation with the Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia hence, those claims are false.

“I am surprised that the spokesperson for the National Chief Imam is claiming the National Chief Imam or his office is not in the know about the empaneling of the Hajj board. As I speak to you, I will inform you credibly that on Thursday at 9am, the national Chief Imam will be swearing into office members of the panel who make up the Hajj board.”

“Now how would you have such an important cleric swear in a body about which he did not even know about as the spokesperson is claiming. The Chief Imam has been in touch with the vice president of the Republic about this subject and as I speak to you, there is a member of the board who belongs to the office of the National Chief Imam, Mr. Mallam Inusah,” Mr. Gomda argued.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Chief Imam was briefed about new board – Hajj board appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This comes a few days after government released a 14-member committee chaired by former New Patriotic Part (NPP) Member of Parliament and Minister Sheikh IC Quaye.

Some regional Chief Imams have reacted to the names saying there was no consultation to include regional representatives.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KMCRvizEpwDajZQARbDts6Pp0nGicHgL”]Speaking to Citi News, spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheik Aremeya Shaibu said even the Chief Imam was not consulted before the announcement was made.

“It appears to me that the board has been rashly been composed without taking time to study the structure and the outcome of the work of the previous committee so we can learn the lessons from there. I would have wished that it would have been a bit more of looking at a structure, putting in place a certain interim Hajj board that will not be directly involved in the management and then you put in place an interim management that would be accountable to the interim board of trustees so that there would be some form of accountability.”

He explained that the defect in the previous board bothered on “accountability transparency” he said “was completely absent” and too partisan.

Sheik Shaibu further observed from all indications “It appears to me that there is going to be a repeat of that and that is my worry.”

This he said is because “even with the Chief Imam’s office, as far as I know, I am not aware of any such consultation. I served on the advisory board of the National Chief Imam, the opportunity would have been for us to also see and know those people who have been put in place.”

He also explained that the Chief Imam and his team bares no grudges against the current board but their worry “is more of procedure on how it has been composed and ones the Chief Imam has not been brought into the picture directly, the way we expect, then we are unable to comment even on the political background of the people.:

Meanwhile the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Harun is suggesting that the board be dissolved and re-constituted to include regional representatives.

“It will allow for all the Regional Imams to be informed. We don’t want some people to blame the government and say that the government doesn’t like moslems and that is why some people couldn’t perform Hajj,” he explained.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post We weren’t consulted about new Hajj board – Office of Chief Imam appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement signed by the Interior Minister, Prosper Bani, noted that September 12 should be observed as a holiday by the whole country.

The office of the National Chief Imam has confirmed that Monday, September 12 would be the day for the Eidul Adha.

The Eidul-Adha festival is also known as the feast of sacrifice is celebrated annually by Muslims to mark Prophet Abraham’s intended sacrifice of his son in fulfillment of a command from God.

The festival coincides with the Hajj activities currently ongoing in Saudi Arabia.

Eid prayers on Monday will be expected to be led by the National Chief Imam Sheik Usman Nuhu Sharubutu.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com

The post Monday, Sept 12 declared holiday for Eidul-Adha celebrations appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.