Chief Imam Rubbishes Shia Statement

Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu

THE NATIONAL Chief Imam has reacted to a statement from the Shia Muslim Community of Ghana that he supervised the sale of the land on which the Abossey Okai Central Mosque is situated, to Pastor Mensa Otabil.

There is no iota of truth in the allegation, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu told DAILY GUIDE yesterday, shortly after the statement was issued by the Acting National Secretary of the Shiites, Faham Nsiah.

According to the Shias, they had learnt with shock that Pastor Mensa Otabil, head of the International Central Gospel Church, had purchased the land for the construction of a shopping mall and shops.

They put the deal at GH¢150, 000 and claimed that there was confusion at the Chief Imam's office over the transaction.

The Shias, in view of the foregone, are asking Pastor Otabil to come clean over the transaction to avert any agitation because as they put it, the property belongs to the Islamic community in the country.

A source close to the Chief Imam however told DAILY GUIDE that the Shias had got it all wrong because according to him, there was a tender for the construction of shops behind the mosque, and a non-Muslim won the bidding.

As a result of dissent over the transaction, especially since other Muslims were unable to win the tender, the Chief Imam put the deal on hold.

A committee, DAILY GUIDE has learnt, was assigned the management of the deal with the Chief Imam playing no active role in it.

'It was not about an outright sale but the construction of shops so that proceeds can be used to service the Office of the National Chief Imam,' the source said.

Pastor Mensa Otabil had earlier sponsored the painting of the Abossey Okai Central Mosque, a gesture which was misconstrued by a section of Muslims, even though the National Chief Imam, who gave the nod for the work to be undertaken, explained that there was nothing untoward about it.

In the interest of inter-faith harmony, the National Chief Imam was yesterday scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Pastor Otabil during which he would express gratitude to him for his goodly gestures.

By A.R. Gomda