Defining A Leadership Succession Plan: Muslims Take A Giant Step In Ghana

It is refreshing to learn that the Muslim Ummah, through its own careful introspection and analysis of how events are unfolding, has decided to inaugurate a Committee in response to the “existential” need to create a framework for peaceful and smooth leadership succession plan. All the fine brains that have made this project possible deserve our commendations. Indeed, for such a project to be conceived in a Holy month like this one (Ramadan), we doff our hats to all the actors who have made this embryonic move possible. May Allaah (SWT) richly bless you all……Ameen. It is our hope that He will guide you to bring your wisdom and perspectives to bear on such a noble cause.

In fact, any close watcher and observer of how conversations around succession plans within the Muslim Ummah have been framed, would tell you the inauguration of such a committee has been long overdue. I don’t intend to rehash or reiterate what the “naysayers” have been projecting and hoping for—all this while.

My task here is to share my Lifelong Learner’s perspectives on why the Ghanaian Muslim Ummah, needs to take this project very seriously. Before I even touch on the merits of such a plan, I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate (as well as thank) His Eminence the Chief Imam of the Republic of Ghana; Dr. Usman Nuhu Sharubutu for not only giving the Ghanaian Ummah the needed spiritual leadership, but for using his eminent presence to intervene in potentially violent confrontational situations between Muslims and non-Muslims. May Allaah (SWT) continue to guide him in every step of the way….Ameen.

Now to the substance of my piece: From what I have gleaned, I understand the mandate of the Committee would include ensuring that adequate consultations are made, in order to build consensus around how transitions or succession plans are followed. This is very crucial, considering the “not so good” conversation that is already hovering in and above us. The issue of sectarianism and its potential to negatively influence the beauty of such a project should not be glossed over.

Though not so pronounced, I am not naïve to assume that such divisions do not pose a threat to the unity and stability of our Muslim communities. We need to engage in frank and open dialogue, to ensure that whatever final decision is reached, has a total resonance with all actors and stakeholders. We can’t afford to allow such differences to drag us into abyss--like we are witnessing in other parts of the “Islamic” World. As the Committee focuses on its mandate, it must also begin to take steps to ensure that, we evolve sustainable architecture for peaceful Muslim and non-Muslim understanding.

This is very crucial, considering how increasingly “hostile” encounters between Muslims and non-Muslims are becoming—a residue of 9/11 and subsequent extremists’ activities. We need an Ummah that is “progressive” and conscious of its secular and spiritual responsibilities to Ghana’s overall development agenda.

While I commend the brains behind the inauguration of such a committee, I would like to use this piece to make some “humble” suggestions to the Committee and the Ghanaian Ummah in general. These are germane issues that deserve some introspective attention and consideration.

Dealing with Diversity within the Ummah

The kind of Muslim Ummah that is present in Ghana can be described as “Different Shades of ….”. The missing variable represents every ethnicity that is present in the Ghanaian Muslim Community. Historical literature is replete with various perspectives explaining how various Muslim ethnic groupings have emerged in Ghana. It is therefore imperative that, we make every single grouping feel represented, and its voice heard in the making of decisions that affect them in one form or another. The more represented people feel, the more inclined they are to going with the flow. In International Development circles there is a principle that is commonly referred to as the “buy-in or ownership” principle. The more people feel they own a decision making process, the better their chances of owning and buying into the collective agenda.

From Kete-Krachi to Accra; from Tamale to Wa; from Kumasi to Cape Coast and from Koforidua to Takoradi, various shades of Muslim communities with diverse ethnicities exist. It is our responsibility to see to it that, beyond the local level aspirations, there is a conscious effort to bring all Muslims under one National agenda.

That way, we can collectively strive to make ourselves relevant in the formulation and implementation of development policies. For instance, despite the political orientations some Muslim brothers and sisters may espouse, it is possible to have a “grand” Muslim agenda that resonates with all Muslims irrespective of their political persuasions. That is how we can use our strength (numbers) to influence policy decisions in the country.

We need a leadership that is visionary, and has the capacity to put the wellbeing of the ordinary Muslim beyond and above personal agendas. As we strive to degrade tendencies that have the potential to draw a wedge between us, such efforts will help us to create sustainable frameworks for the pursuit of our collective agendas.

Build a platform for consolidating Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding

Globally, the geopolitical arena is riddled with issues of Islamic extremism and terrorism. As a result of the actions of some 0.001 per cent of some misguided Muslims, the narrative about Muslim and non-Muslim encounters across the globe is one of hostility and violence. For me, this is the time for the Ghanaian Muslim Ummah to take back the narrative, by pointing out to the ordinary non-Muslim Ghanaian that, Islamic concepts such as Jihad have contextual meanings that are distinct from what prevail in the lexicon of the violent extremists. It is time we used Darwah and other outreach programmes to create awareness among our non-Muslim brothers and sisters.

The general anti-Islamic rhetoric is gradually shaping how Muslim and non-Muslim conversations are framed in most parts of the world—including Ghana. Reading comments on Ghanaian online news portals about Jihadi activities elsewhere, I cannot but conclude that, a certain perception about “the Muslim” is gradually being formed in Ghana. Which for me as a Muslim, is worrying. For instance, when the issue about the “coercion” of Muslim students to attend Mass and church services came up, the commentaries were, for me, in a bad taste. This is the more reason why we need to create a platform where Muslims and non-Muslims will continually engage in dialogue for consensus building.

Prioritisation of youth and Gender imperatives

It is shocking that in our part of the world where the youth constitutes a relatively larger proportion of the population, their perspectives—ironically—have little or no significance in the way policy issues are framed—right from the National to the grassroots level. I was therefore not surprised when somewhere last year a number of participants at a youth conference complained very bitterly about how their concerns have generally been regarded as peripheral, when issues are being considered in Muslim communities.

I could feel and relate to the angst and anger coming from every single youth participant about why their “voices matter” in the broader decision making spectrum. I could sense the voices of youths who are passionately and genuinely looking for role models and mentors to help them shape their dreams. Unfortunately, our communities have become a world of “everybody for himself; God for us all”.

There are a considerable number of youths that are willing and ready to change the “tough-talk” and violent narrative associated with Muslim and Zongo communities. But, the terrain has not been easy for their navigation. While strategic efforts are being done elsewhere to productively transform the so-called negative energies of the teeming youth, what we are doing in our part of the world is to continuously kill their spirits—by not engaging them and showing them the true path. Why won’t our communities become the recruiting grounds for thugs and ballot box snatchers during elections?

As it turns out, it is not only the voice of the youth that is suppressed. Our Mothers, sisters and daughters who play very critical roles in our communities still struggle to make their voices heard. As a young man whose life has been hugely influenced by a woman (mother), I know there are several other people who can relate to my experience. Their roles in raising and nurturing the family cannot be quantified.

The way and manner some mothers have transformed their homes and communities with virtually nothing or “little” resources is fascinating. This is the more reason why we need to empower our women and girls to take up responsible positions in our communities. I know some women and girls are already making inroads and impacting our Muslim communities in diverse spheres of life. It is time we reminded the rest that, they can accomplish the greatest of all heights in life, if they can put their minds to it. We must especially, educate our girl-children to develop some “belief” in their capabilities.

We need to support our girl-children to make the very best out of life. While we encourage them to pursue their aspirations, we must remind them to be mindful of the teachings and values of Islam. Especially, by reminding the few deviant ones: those who think calling people names; insulting and disrespecting everybody in their neighborhood is what is called “civilisation”.

Until we recognise the need to make all these considerations a priority to the progress and incremental development of our Muslim communities, it would not matter how many Committees we inaugurate to develop blue-prints or succession plans, we will continue to be faced with a disorganised, disoriented, undisciplined and disjointed Muslim societies. I will end my piece by saying: Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslim Brothers and Sisters in Ghana, and across the Globe.

Inusah Mohammed Awall
Twitter: @Wagoooni