"Otto Pfister" is unIslamic -Chief Imam

THE NATIONAL Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, on Saturday, showed his dislike for the rising tide of indecent dressing among the nation’s youth, when he devoted a greater part of his Eid-Ul-Fitr address at the Independence Square to the phenomenon.

"I am strongly admonishing parents and guardians to pay special attention to their wards and the way they dress. This Otto Pfister way of dressing is totally unacceptable in Islam, therefore it is unIslamic," he said.

In Ghanaian parlance, 'Otto Pfister' is a kind of dressing in which the youth, especially boys, intentionally pull their trousers down below the waistline to the extent of almost dropping off or exposing part of their buttocks.

The term gained popularity in 1991 after the Black Starlets, Ghana’s Under-17 soccer team, had lifted that year’s trophy in Italy. The then German Coach, Otto Pfister, who led the team to success, was fond of dressing that way.

According to the Chief Imam, "the way the boys have taken the law into their hands, exposing themselves on streets must be taken care of by all.

“We are Muslims and should be cautious and law-abiding, which should start from the house.”

He called on parents to take up the challenge of teaching their children the right way of dressing and behaving at home and outside.

Another phenomenon of equal concern to the devout Islamic leader was the habit of blocking two ends of a street for social festivities like funerals, naming ceremonies and weddings.

He said those young men who rode bicycles unnecessarily within the blocked perimeters should stop, as that constituted indiscipline.

“In fact, it is rather unfortunate and unIslamic. Let us behave well as Muslims by following the Holy Prophet of Islam’s tradition so that we end well by becoming mirrors to our neighbours.

“These are the challenges of our time and we need to address them and take care of them,” he stated.

Sheikh Sharubutu called for unity among the citizenry, noting that that was the bedrock of every society’s development.

“We must therefore work together and strengthen the spirit of genuine brotherhood, solidarity, fraternity and co-operation which are the foundation of unity.

“To be united, indeed to benefit from unity, one must be prepared to share genuine love and compassion; eschew selfishness and hypocrisy; exhibit maximum tolerance, respect for one another especially the leadership, and be law-abiding,” he advised.

Among the dignitaries at the Independence Square were President J.A. Kufuor, Vice President Aliu Mahama, some Ministers of State and some members of the diplomatic community in Ghana.

Vice President Mahama, later in the day, threw a party for friends and well-wishers at his Cantonment official residence.

Those who think the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants are at each other’s throats because of their ambition should have seen the Vice President, a major contender in the race and another kingpin, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo, seated at the party holding discussions as their supporters also did their own thing.