Rising Tensions Over Religious Disputes Warned by Council Officials Gl

Council Warns of Rising Tensions Over Religious Disputes

The National Peace Council (NPC) has urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint and avoid conflating two separate incidents that have recently attracted public attention, warning that inflammatory commentary could threaten religious and communal harmony.

Inflammatory Comments Spark Arrests

Two religious clerics, Imam Masud Abdullah, 35, and Christian cleric Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, popularly known as Apostle Daniel JY Adjei, have been arrested over alleged inflammatory and offensive remarks about Prophet Mohammed. Imam Abdullah was arrested in a joint operation involving the Ghana Police Service and the National Signals Bureau after allegedly making comments during a sermon at Ntensere in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region that were interpreted as advocating violence against anyone who insulted Prophet Mohammed. Apostle Adjei was separately arrested by the Police Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team following the circulation of a video in which he allegedly made derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammed.

Call for Restraint

The National Peace Council said the sensitive religious dimension of the developments required responsible public discourse. "The Council recognises the extremely sensitive religious dimension surrounding these matters and urge the public, including religious leaders, political actors, civil society organisations, and media practitioners to exercise restraint, avoid drawing premature conclusions, and refrain from inflammatory commentary that could incite religious or communal tensions," the Council stated. The call follows the warning by the Police that freedom of religion and freedom of expression must never be used as justification for inciting violence or encouraging members of the public to harm others.

Promoting Dialogue

The National Peace Council has been engaging key stakeholders as part of efforts to prevent the developments from escalating into wider religious tensions. The Council said it is in contact with the Office of the National Chief Imam, the Christian Council of Ghana, and other religious and traditional authorities, while continuing to monitor the situation. Speaking at an engagement between the Inspector-General of Police and religious leaders at the Police Headquarters in Accra, the Council's Executive Secretary, George Amoh, said Ghana's religious diversity must be protected as a source of strength.

Preventing Escalation

The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has also called on Christian and Muslim leaders to demonstrate their commitment to religious tolerance publicly. He urged religious leaders to go beyond messages of peace delivered from their respective pulpits and demonstrate unity in their communities. "Let the public see Christians and Islamic leaders standing together, sharing meals, issuing joint statements, and walking through our communities hand in hand," he said. The Peace Council said all stakeholders have a responsibility to exercise emotional maturity in their public statements, particularly given the potential for religious issues to trigger heightened tensions.

Maintaining Peace

The National Peace Council said measured public discourse would be essential to preventing the current controversies from becoming a source of religious confrontation. "By promoting respectful and measured discourse, we can collectively preserve and strengthen the peace, unity, and social cohesion that Ghana continues to enjoy," it stated. The Council has urged religious leaders, political actors, civil society groups, and media practitioners to avoid premature conclusions and inflammatory commentary while the relevant institutions handle the matters. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the path to maintaining peace and harmony lies in promoting dialogue and understanding among people of different faiths.

Source: JOY