Western Region: Ghana’s Islamic State

Introduction
So much happens, has happened and continues to happen in our dear country. So much rot and corruption. So much moral decadence. So much deprivation in terms of basic development.

Our roads have become refuse dumps overnight, the number of prostitutes is increasing by the day. Politicians are becoming more cunning and untruthful, young flagrantly disrespecting the old etc.

Yet, we take pride being referred to as a religious nation.

Here is what, whichever religion is credited with majority of adherents thus has a huge responsibility to fix that which is eating us up as a people socially, economically, morally yet more importantly; spiritually.


The Situation Thus Far
As a Muslim I charge our Imams and leaders to note that some the people they preach to on the pulpits, turn around to perpetrate illegalities which results in the larger ill and social canker of degeneration in all spheres of our national life.

Same is the case with the Christian leaders. So do I say because of what value would religion be if not to hone our lives. Our blunt attitudes that emanate from desires need shaping on the anvil of religion without doubt.

I mention Islam and Christianity but kindly note that same applies to other religions. The need to become better people by our belief is not negotiable.

Here in Ghana, religious groups have limited themselves to the pulpits and more often than not, stayed off the developmental agenda of the country. Those Christian leaders who have spoken out have been lashed out at. My respects to Mensa Otabil and Rev. Martey

Do we ever hear Muslim leaders speak on anything? Nothing! It is as if all they have to say is what they have said over the years. On the pulpit with the staff in hand, do good and be admitted to paradise, do the opposite and be dumped in hell. Simple as that.

It seems that to them that is all that matters. Let’s not get things twisted; having a thousand Madrasas and halaqah sessions or minarets blurting the call to prayer is not a measure of how Islamic you are.

How well do you engage the feelings of the immediate congregants especially those feelings that cut across regional boundaries and are national in nature; what are your organizational abilities as a leader and that beyond the pulpit what else?


The Case of Ghana’s Western Region
Two significant issues worthy of note, the march against same sex relationships and the hijab rights march barely a month back. These two protests happened in the region but had a national character.

Albeit an inter religious protest, the anti same-sex relationship issue years back was a national one but the Western region stood up to protest.

Let any Muslim deny that the issue of religious rights especially for Muslims to be allowed to worship on campuses of mission and even secular schools is not long overdue.  So so lip service over the years and who came to the rescue of Muslims; Muslim Rights Front.

So much noise did the Western Region  make about anti gays that the sour and tasteless Sulley Ali Gabass episode shook Muslims in the region so badly. Whiles we don’t wish to be seen as a protestant population, imagine what well planned protests on many rights infractions of Muslims would have been history by now.

And let anyone tell me that there are other Muslim leaders like Hajj Saeed Jallo and his team, ready to prosecute a public agenda in the interest of Muslims of today and generations yet unborn.

We may not exactly agree on matters of Aqeedah what we can do is to unite as did Allah exhort us to hold on fast to HIS rope and not divide. Let’s let the issues of mutuality supersede all others as that is our sure bet in moving the Ummah forward.

Till then, not by the number of minarets, madrasas, muallims or massajids but by the level of activism and rights protection. I see the Western Region as Ghana’s Islamic State. May Allah one day make the entirely of Ghana, an Islamic State. Ameen.

 Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
newcguide@gmail.com/alfarsenal@yahoo.com