Chief Imam condemns Eid chaos, urges restraint amid religious tensions

His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam of Ghana, has issued a forceful call for peace and restraint, urging that all religious disagreements, offensive expressions or alleged insults be addressed strictly through lawful and constitutional processes.

The appeal comes in the wake of recent disturbances that marred this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebrations in Accra and amid growing concerns over inflammatory rhetoric by some religious figures.

Eid-day commotion sparks intervention

The Chief Imam expressed deep discomfort over confusion that erupted during the Eid-ul-Adha congregational prayers of the Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWAJ) sect at the forecourt of the State House. According to a statement issued by his office on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the intra-sectarian dispute is broadly linked to issues of leadership legitimacy, constitutional validity and financial accountability within the sect. The immediate trigger was a disagreement over which of the two Deputy National Imams of ASWAJ was authorised to lead the festive prayer at the forecourt of Parliament.

Describing the incident as “a painful irony that defeats the fundamental purposes of the sacred day”—celebration, reflection and unity—the Chief Imam called on the factions involved to allow peace and reconciliation to prevail.

Religious leaders cautioned against provocative rhetoric

Beyond the ASWAJ dispute, the Chief Imam’s statement carried a broader warning to religious leaders against using emotional or provocative rhetoric that could incite hatred or public disorder. While acknowledging that Islam endorses criticism, he emphasised that Muslims are obliged to exercise criticism “within the confines of decency, rationality, humility and legality”.

“Indeed, language vulgarism in the name of leadership criticism is incompatible with Islamic moralism,” the statement quoted him as saying.

His Eminence stressed that Ghana has earned global recognition for its interfaith harmony and that cordial relations within religious groups should equally be upheld and celebrated. He appealed to leadership to prioritise patience, tolerance and forgiveness in handling followers and addressing internal disagreements.

Constitutional path and collective responsibility

The Chief Imam declared his readiness to leverage an amalgamation of religious and secular mechanisms to facilitate a resolution of disputes. He reminded the fraternity that achieving peace is a collective responsibility and a civic duty.

In the words of the revered Imam, “the failure of Ahlussunnah is not determined by the possibility of conflicts among its members, but by the impossibility of solutions to such conflicts”.

He urged members to be guided by the words of Allah in Quran 49:10: “The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy”.

A lifetime of peace advocacy

Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, born on April 23, 1919, at Old Fadama in the Greater Accra Region, has served as Ghana’s National Chief Imam since 1993. Now 107 years old, he is widely celebrated for his lifelong commitment to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence. He is also a member of Ghana’s National Peace Council.

His interventions over the decades have consistently called for restraint, constitutional order and national unity—from appeals for peaceful elections to condemnation of violence and inflammatory speech.