The unfortunate religious incident that occurred a few days ago should not be overlooked by us, the citizens of our beloved country, Ghana\. Since when did we, as a nation, throw caution to the wind and allow such unfortunate utterances to threaten the peace we have worked so hard to preserve?
Have we suddenly forgotten that Ghana, from its very inception, has been made up of different tribes and religious groups? We have coexisted peacefully with one another, attended each other’s mission schools—even when those institutions were not affiliated with our own faiths—and intermarried across religious and ethnic lines . So, what exactly changed?
Haven’t we, as a country, learned from similar unfortunate incidents that have caused major problems for some of our neighbours? Some are still dealing with the consequences to this very day.
If we haven’t, let this serve as a stark reminder. Some of our Sahelian neighbours continue to battle religiously motivated insurgencies, while Nigeria has also faced serious security threats linked to extremist violence. Outside our subregion, the Central African Republic has grappled with years of conflict involving religious and communal tensions. Rwanda, meanwhile, has steadily rebuilt itself after the devastating consequences of ethnic hatred and division.
Aren’t these lessons glaring enough for us Ghanaians to take a cue from? If not, then I honestly do not know what else will make us more cautious about rhetoric and actions capable of dividing our people.
Frankly, we should never take the peaceful coexistence we currently enjoy for granted.
Following the unfortunate remarks attributed to Muslim cleric Masud Abdullah, who allegedly incited violence against people who spoke ill of Prophet Mohammed, he faced widespread criticism. Even the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, reportedly condemned the statement.
On the other hand, Pastor Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei also incurred the anger of sections of the Muslim community following comments he allegedly made about the Prophet.
Although both men were picked up by the police for investigations, what sparked further public outrage was the sight of the pastor allegedly being slapped by some individuals while he was in police custody. The incident left many Ghanaians questioning how such a confrontation could occur in the presence of law enforcement officers.
Though the matter has reportedly been settled and the Ghana Police Service has assured the public that it will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, the police must be extremely meticulous when handling such sensitive situations.
Religious and tribal tensions are a slippery slope for any country to navigate, and the Ghana Police Service ought to appreciate the seriousness of the situation. The slightest trigger could spark violence, and that is the last thing Ghana needs amid the many challenges the country is already grappling with
Ghana must continue to remain an example of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and national unity to our neighbours and the rest of the world.
Let us always remember: this is the only place we call home.
By Stella Annan
