By: Mohammed Amin Lamptey Hussein, Expert in Communication / Student of Knowledge
AHLUSSUNNAH Wal-Jama’a Ghana (ASWAJ Ghana) is one of the major Islamic movements in Ghana, following orthodox Sunni Islam based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah according to the understanding of the early generations, the Salaf.
Its history deserves respect. Its present challenges demand urgent and honest resolution.
Roots Of The Da’wah:
The Sunni reformist Da’wah began to take root in Ghana as early as the 1940s through pioneers such as Alhaj Yusuf Afa and Afa Jura, of blessed memory. Their early efforts laid the foundation for what would become a nationwide movement.
A central figure in that journey is Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam, born in 1932 at Kwahu Ankoma in the Eastern Region. He travelled to Nigeria, Sudan and eventually Saudi Arabia in 1959, where he studied at Darul-Hadith and later graduated from the Islamic University of Madina in 1968.
Upon his return to Ghana, Sheikh Umar became a central figure in propagating the Sunnah. With good health and vibrancy, he established the Islamic Research Institute as a hub for Sunni teachings, helping to train many of the scholars who serve the movement today.
Leadership As A Trust:
In Islam, leadership is a sacred trust, Amanah, and a heavy responsibility — not a privilege, status or means of personal gain.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: _”The leader of a people is their servant.”_
Islamic Leadership Rests On Four Pillars:
1. Amanah and Accountability: Authority is a trust from Allah. Every leader is accountable for how he treats those under his care.
2. Justice (Adl): Allah commands: _”Indeed, Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice”_ — Qur’an 4:58.
3. Consultation (Shura): Decisions should not be made arbitrarily. Leaders must consult knowledgeable and trustworthy people.
4. Moral Integrity (Taqwa): Legitimacy rests on character, honesty and adherence to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, not coercion or pursuit of power.
The purpose of leadership is to prevent chaos, establish order, protect the community and guide people toward righteousness.
From Tensions To Formal Unification:
The rise of Ahlussunnah teachings, which emphasised scriptural purity, led to friction with other traditions, including well-documented tensions with the Tijaniyyah brotherhood. The movement also faced internal pressures and fragmentation.
By the grace of Allah and through the leadership of Sheikh Umar and his team, a major press conference was held at the Teachers’ Hall in Accra on June 10, 1996, to push for unification of all followers of the Sunnah across the country.
After consultations among leading scholars, Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam was chosen as National Imam. On August 23, 1997, ASWAJ Ghana was formally inaugurated at the Libya Cultural Centre, Ring Road, Accra, with Sheikh Umar as its first National Imam.
Its mission was to coordinate nationwide Da’wah, advance Islamic education, manage social welfare and unite Sunni Muslims under one umbrella. Today, ASWAJ operates regional chapters, schools and community outreach programmes across Ghana.
The Current Crisis:
The present tension, which has unfortunately become public, is rooted in an internal leadership dispute involving the National Imam, Sheikh Hajj Umar Ibrahim, and supporters of Sheikh Mohammed Kamil Mohammed, the First Deputy National Imam.
The Issues, As Publicly Discussed Within The Movement, Include:
1. Disputed Deputy Leadership: Delegates and council bodies within ASWAJ are said to have affirmed Sheikh Kamil as First Deputy National Imam. Sheikh Umar has reportedly maintained that he was not properly consulted and that the process bypassed his authority.
2. Eid Prayer Disagreements: The disagreement spilled into public view during Eid prayers, including at the State House in Accra, where confusion arose over who should lead the congregational prayer.
3. Allegations and Accountability: Concerns have been raised about administrative decisions, project funds and associations. On the other hand, supporters of Sheikh Kamil maintain that he was constitutionally elected and cleared by organisational bodies.
These are internal matters that are resolvable. But when handled without self-control, patience and mutual respect, they risk damaging the hard-won reputation of the movement and its founding leadership.
How Islam Teaches Us To Resolve Crisis:
Islam does not treat crisis management as mere administration. It is a moral, spiritual and communal responsibility grounded in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Justice: Resolving a crisis with fairness ensures all parties feel heard and builds long-term trust rather than superficial silence.
Wisdom and Deliberation: The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended step-by-step management — defining causes, analysing realities and acting with precision, not panic or rumour.
Preservation of the Ummah: Muslims are likened to a single structure, like a brick wall. Resolving disputes restores unity and prevents factionalism.
Patience Paired with Action: Faith does not mean passive resignation. It pairs reliance on Allah with practical effort to improve the situation.
Where parties disagree, Islam encourages constructive dialogue, listening before judging, and bringing in a neutral, wise and trusted mediator to guide reconciliation. Patience and forgiveness help restore brotherhood.
History offers models — the Charter of Medina, which emphasised coexistence, and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which used strategic patience and compromise to avert bloodshed.
Time To Act Is Now:
Effective crisis management protects the vulnerable, prevents hasty and biased decisions through Shura, and encourages foresight, as in the example of Prophet Yusuf’s management of famine through planning and storage.
Quick, rational action based on accurate information — not rumours — limits panic and damage.
It is sad and embarrassing to see the leadership of Ahlussunnah washing its dirty linen in public. This is un-Islamic and unacceptable, and it undermines the Da’wah that many sacrificed to build.
I therefore respectfully call on the leadership, including Sheikh Umar and all stakeholders, to sit up and address this issue amicably, regardless of the positions taken by regional leadership and other parties involved.
The movement needs reconciliation, not escalation. It needs Shura, not public confrontation. It needs servant leadership, not power struggle.
May Allah intervene to settle these internal, personal and administrative challenges in the house of Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama’ah — Ghana, and restore unity, dignity and purpose to the movement.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
