The National Chief Imam of Ghana has shown his support for the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslims and called on Muslims to forget their differences and unite.

96-year-old Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who himself is a Sunni Muslim was appointed as the National Chief Imam of Ghana in 1993, He is also a member of Ghana’s National Peace Council. He expressed his support for the Ahmadiyya community while speaking at the community’s annual Islamic Convention which is taking place this weekend in the UK.

While speaking at the convention Sheikh Nuhu said:

” I am delighted to attend the annual Ahmadiyya convention, In Ghana the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is well known for its efforts towards peace and interfaith work. The community has peacefully existed along with other sects, and there is no hiding the fact that Ahmadiyya community has done a lot of work for the promotion of education and helped improve health care. We have a long history of strong and friendly relations with the Ahmadiyya community, I have always sought advice from the community’s National on important matters. In Ghana, we have a Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and the Ahmadiyya community is a prominent member of the committe.”

The Sheikh ended his speech by saying:

“Even though our sects are different, all of us Muslims are united, Our cause is the same, We have a strong belief that Prophet Muhamamd PBUH is our Messenger, our book is the Holy Quran and Kabba is our Qibla (direction). Like Allah has brought us together in this blessed location, I pray that Allah also brings us together in Heaven on the day of Judgement”

In 1974 Pakistan declared the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam a non-Muslim minority and since then the community has faced severe persecution which critics say is the result of the laws that specifically target Ahmadis. The Ahmadis are banned from reciting the Quran or saying the Islamic greeting of ‘AssalmoaAlikum‘, If found guilty they can go to jail for up to two years.