<<Print>>The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has disputed claims that he invited the seven Pakistani nationals arrested in Ghana on suspicion of being terrorists. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) on Thursday arrested the Pakistani nationals on suspicion that they may harbor ill-motives for being in the country illegally.
Media reports had suggested that they were in Ghana at the invitation of the National Chief Imam, SSheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, who will be catering for their expenses in Ghana. But speaking on Eyewitness News, Spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw, denied the reports, saying “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.” He insisted that the “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.” Sheikh Aremeyaw further clarified that the seven belonged to a group that has a network of mission activities across the world, adding 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.”
Although Sheikh Aremeyaw clarified that the men do not pose any security threat to the country, he emphasized the need for security agencies and Muslims to collaborate and monitor their activities in order to deal with possible terrorist threats. “ 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.”