I didn’t invite Pakistani preachers – Chief Imam

The national chief Imam Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu has categorically stated his office has nothing to do with the over 13 arrested Pakistani nationals, claiming to be preachers in Ghana.

The Pakistanis were arrested at Assin Fosu in the Central region Thursday upon suspicion they were engaging in extremist activities. They have, however, denied such claims, insisting they are Ahmadiyya Muslim Missionaries.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana has distanced itself from their activities with a section of the media alleging the foreigners are in the country under the aegis of the Chief Imam.

“It is not true that the people are in the country at the invitation of the National Chief Imam or at the expense of the National Chief Imam,” the spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw said.

“Chief Imam does not sponsor any Islamic Mission or organization to enter into this country to undertake any activity. Neither does he invite people from outside to come and undertake some activities,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.

Sheikh Aremeyaw, however, added that, “they have been coming into the country for the past 20 years and are embarking on some Islamic mission work which involves talking to Muslims about issues of spirituality and morality.”

He also clarified that they pose no security threat to Ghana, corroborating the preliminary investigation of the Ghana Immigration Service.

“I have known these people in this country, they have never taught anybody any radicalized views in Islam; but my suspicion is that, because we also know Pakistan is an area infested with the radical and militant Islamic orientation, we know that it can raise our suspicion so what we need to do now is that, we Muslims and the security agencies can cooperate and monitor and get some evidence of radicalized views that they have expressed. That is the only way we can authenticate the report that they have taught anybody any radicalized view.”