Of Alhaji Mohammed Abdul Salam's Appointment as the CEO of Ghana National Lotteries Authority (NLA) And The Debate Among Muslims

I have observed with intrigue the debate, especially among Muslims following the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdul Salam, a Muslim as the acting CEO of NLA. The debate and the furore is very well understood as it has to do with “lotto”, an act considered by Muslims in general as a major sin.

As a Muslim and somebody in leadership position, who naturally is expected to serve as a role model to the youth, Alhaji Abdul Salam's acceptance of such a position, especially at a time when gambling has become the cankerworm eating deeply into the social fabric of Muslim communities, is very worrying.

His action will not only embolden Muslims already engaged in gambling but legitimise gambling in the eyes of some Muslim youth.

It will also serve as a motivation for the Muslim youth who are contemplating venturing into gambling but are afraid of the backlash, to dive right in.

Alhaji Abdul Salam's appointment is really unprecedented, initially when my Christian work colleague called to inform me of the appointment, I took it as a total joke and brushed it aside. In this season of people making up appointments, I thought it was one of those wild jokes.

However, when I saw the letter dated 15th January, 2025, I cringed. I was shocked. Although I knew nothing was impossible in this world, it felt a bit off, even bizarre for a Muslim to head the country’s top lotto agency.

To emphasize the point of how unprecedented this is, a cursory look at the two most used photographs of Alhaji Abdul Salam (one in which he was in Mecca and the other where he was wearing a Jallabia with a white cup) showed they were specifically selected by media houses and bloggers to drum home the point that this is a Muslim and an Alhaji who has been appointed as the country’s Lotto Capo, something unheard of.

I truly do not fault the media in emphasising the unprecedented nature of the appointment through the use of such images but I felt embarrassed.

I know many Muslims felt the same way.
Meanwhile, as the debate rages on among Muslims, the persons debating the issue fell in one of three groups.

The first group, called out Alhaji Abdul Salam's action as a major sin and outrightly condemned it while asking him to reject the appointment or resign. They quoted verses of the Qur'an and the sayings of Prophet Mohammed (Sallah Laahu alaihi wa salam) to back their claim.

The second group thought that it was a personal decision and that everyone else is a sinner, thus nobody should cast any stone. This group neither explicitly encouraged Alhaji Abdul Salam to take up the position nor discouraged him. To them it is nobody's damn business.

The third group not only welcomed Alhaji Abdul Salam's appointment as the Lotto Capo of Ghana but wished him well and prayed for him to succeed. Some members within this group even went ahead to propose strategies he could employ to optimize the performance of the institution. Their argument is that Ghana is a circular country and that everyone is free to participate in any type of work so long as it does not go against the laws of the country.

But where do I stand?
I will answer with a quote from the Holy Qur'an Chapter 7:164-165.

Allah (the Most High) says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allah is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they [the wrongdoers] may fear Him."

When they [the wrongdoers] ignored the warning they were given, We rescued those who used to warn against evil and overtook the wrongdoers with a dreadful punishment for their rebelliousness.”

In another verse, Allah (the most High) explained why the Prophets cursed the previous generation. He said:

“Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawood (David) and ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.

They used not to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evildoing, sins, polytheism, disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do” - [Al-Maa’idah 5:78-79]

Allah (the most high) then explained why Muslims "are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind". He said:

“You (Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al‑Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)” - [Al ‘Imraan 3:110]

Most importantly, Allah (the most High) warned us in Qur'an 5:90-91 that:

"O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful.

Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?"

Therefore, for me there is no excuse not to call out and condemn sin, even if you yourself is engaged in that same sin.

Allah knows there is no human being, apart from the Prophets, without sin but has tasked every believer to preach against vice and call others to virtue.

Indeed, Prophet Mohammed (S. A. W) said, “whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of faith.”

It is therefore, very dangerous for Muslims to defend and encourage people who openly sin or are likely to fall into sin. As Allah (S. W. T) emphasised that:

“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety) and do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah, verily, Allah is severe in punishment.”

Indeed, many righteous people were destroyed because they refused to speak against sin or worse, encouraged it by defending the act.

Now, the danger is that Alhaji Abdul Salam has set a precedent for other Muslims to unfortunately follow. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever establishes an evil practice, has the burden of its sin and the sin of those who acted upon it without decreasing from their sin at all.

That said, all NDC party faithfuls in the Northern Region know how hard Alhaji Mohammed Abdul Salam has worked for the party. It will, therefore, not be out of place for him to be re-assigned another portfolio as he deserve any peck that comes from working to bring a party to power.

I’ll, as a result, respectfully urge Alhaji to resign from his position as the acting CEO of NLA and request for a new portfolio and Allah will provide for him from where he least expected.

I’ll end by saying that calling out and speaking against wrongdoing does not in anyway make the caller an angel. It is only a means of discharging a responsibility Allah (the Most High) placed on all believers.

May Allah forgive all our shortcomings and grant us Jannatul Firdaus without reckoning. Aameen!

Alhassan Ahmed
rahmed2013@gmail.com

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