KUMASI, GHANA — The Founder of the Alhassan Salifu Muslim Community Centre in Kumasi, Mr. Alhassan Salifu, has condemned the call for violence against persons who insult Prophet Muhammad, describing extremism and religious violence as incompatible with Islam and Ghana’s tradition of peaceful coexistence.
 |
| Sheikh Alhassan Salifu,The Founder of the Alhassan Salifu Muslim Community Centre |
His comments follow the circulation of a viral social-media video involving a Ghanaian Islamic cleric who is alleged to have made remarks suggesting that Muslims should kill anyone who insults Prophet Muhammad. The identity of the cleric has not been independently established.
Mr. Salifu said such remarks, if accurately represented, should be condemned because they have the potential to inflame religious tensions and undermine Ghana's longstanding reputation for religious tolerance.
He stressed that “extremism and violence have no place in Islam” and urged Muslims and Christians to reject messages that could encourage hatred, retaliation or violence.
According to him, religious leaders have a particular responsibility to ensure that sermons and public statements promote peace, tolerance and community development rather than division.
He called on Imams, pastors, religious teachers, bloggers and social-media commentators to use their platforms responsibly and to promote messages that strengthen national unity.
“Religious leaders must be mindful of the influence they have over their followers. Our messages should bring people together, not encourage people to take the law into their own hands,” Mr. Salifu said.
He further encouraged Muslims and Christians to respect one another's faith and to resolve disagreements through dialogue and lawful means.
One Ghana, Different Faiths
Mr. Salifu's remarks were echoed by Alhassan Abdallah Musah, Policy Analyst of the Coalition of National Zongo Political Groupings, who described the alleged remarks as “un-Ghanaian” and incompatible with Ghana's tradition of religious tolerance.
Mr. Musah stressed that the identity of the cleric had not been independently established and said the Coalition did not endorse or support threats of violence against people of any faith.
“Ghana is a peace-loving country. We do not promote religious extremism. Our strength lies in tolerance, peaceful coexistence and unity despite our religious differences,” he said.
He described the reported statement as being in bad taste and urged Muslims who may have supported the alleged remarks to reflect on the teachings and example of Prophet Muhammad, whom he described as a messenger of peace.
Mr. Musah also condemned attacks against people because of their religious beliefs, stressing that Ghanaians belong to one nation despite practising different faiths.
“It is one Ghana, but different faiths. We are like a tree with many branches, but we remain one tree.”
He called on religious leaders, community leaders and young people to reject messages capable of provoking religious hatred, retaliation or violence.