A born-and-raised member of Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a (ASWAJ) and Administrator of the Coalition for Islamic Humanitarian Organizations Ghana (CIHOG), *SULEMANA ALHASSAN Atakpo*, has waded into the recent leadership developments within ASWAJ, calling for respect for the ASWAJ Constitution and urgent dialogue to protect the peace of the Muslim community.
In a press release issued in Accra, Mr. Atakpo said he has taken serious note of a recent press conference attributed to Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam and Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan, during which announcements were made concerning the appointment of new acting Deputy National Imams and other members to positions within ASWAJ.
According to him, his concern is not that of an outsider, but as someone born, raised and nurtured within the Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a tradition with a deep interest in its unity and peaceful future.
Constitution Must Be Above Every Individual
Mr. Atakpo stressed that the Constitution of an organisation is its governing framework and must be respected by everyone irrespective of position, influence or religious standing.
“If the ASWAJ Constitution prescribes specific procedures and constitutional organs for the appointment, election or confirmation of national officers, those procedures must be followed. No individual or group should assume powers that the Constitution does not confer upon them,” he stated.
He questioned who, under the ASWAJ Constitution, has the authority to create, appoint or approve the recently announced positions, and whether that authority belongs to the National Executive Council, National Da’awa Council, National Congress or another constitutionally recognised organ.
“This is not a personal attack against Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam, Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan or any other individual. This is about the Constitution. It is about institutional authority. It is about maintaining order within Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a,” he clarified.
He warned that public disagreements over leadership have the potential to create confusion among followers and deepen divisions at the grassroots level.
Call For Government-Facilitated Dialogue
Mr. Atakpo said the matter requires urgent national attention, not for government to interfere in Islamic religious doctrine, but for peacebuilding, mediation and protection of public order before the disagreement escalates.
He respectfully called upon the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Peace Council and other appropriate institutions to facilitate an urgent, neutral and inclusive dialogue among the legitimate constitutional stakeholders of ASWAJ to:
1. Establish the constitutional status of the recently announced appointments
2. Determine which organs have authority under the ASWAJ Constitution
3. Prevent the emergence of competing or parallel leadership structures
4. Encourage all parties to submit disputed matters to the appropriate constitutional organs
5. Seek an independent legal or constitutional interpretation where necessary
6. Protect the unity and peace of Ghana’s Muslim community
7. Prevent the dispute from escalating into confrontation or a wider public-security concern.
Appeal To Leaders
Appealing to scholars, imams, leaders, elders and stakeholders, he urged them to put the unity of the Ummah above individual differences.
“Our disagreements must never become greater than our brotherhood. Our positions must never become greater than our Constitution. And our personal interests must never become greater than the peace and future of Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a,” he said.
“Those who are signatories to the Constitution have an even greater responsibility to uphold and defend its provisions.”
Mr. Atakpo urged authorities not to wait until there is confrontation before facilitating dialogue, noting that preventive engagement is preferable to responding after tensions have escalated.
“Let the Constitution speak. Let the appropriate constitutional organs decide. Let dialogue prevail. And let the unity and peace of Ghana’s Muslim community remain our collective priority,” he concluded.
