The Director of Elections and Vice Chairman of the Opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has appealed to the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng to consider the sensitivity of Ghanaians with regards to religious comments.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng on April 10 proposed the use of mobile applications like text messages and WhatsApp in calling Muslims to prayer.
He observed places of worship in the country had become places of noisemaking, and questioned why worshipers are unable to contain the noise they make within their auditorium or premises.
“In the house of worship, why is it that the noise will (not) be limited to the house of worship…and again maybe from the mosque, why is it that time for prayer would not be transmitted with a text message or WhatsApp so the Imam will send WhatsApp message to everybody that the time for prayer is up, so appear,” he said at a news conference.
According to Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo matters that border with religion especially among Ghanaians should be done with consideration of their sensitivity.
“Any comment that looks like demeaning of one’s religion will send a signal that will illustrate an attack. Government officials should be very circumspect in their statement. As an expert in local government, I know noise pollution is an offense which is enshrined in the bylaws of the local government acts, but these laws are not realistically applied as it should be because of the practicality of our community settings as Ghanaians.
Speaking on Ahotor FM morning Show with Onantefour Addae Mununkum on Thursday 12th April, 2018, Ofosu-Ampofo avowed that the ministry of environment should provide Mobile phones for people in the Muslim community and also orient them in its usage before considering a means of that nature.
He further stated that this act would not be realistic and should not be considered because most of our aged Muslims in the Zongo communities are ‘illiterates” with regards to mobile phone usage. This will be a restriction to their freedom of religion.
Ofosu-Ampofo continued by stating that the country faces serious challenge of environmental pollution that should be tackled by the ministry.
“Pollution of our lands and water bodies keeps increasing and I believe the ministry should pay attention to matters of this nature. We are in the raining season and there is the likelihood of a cholera outbreak, the ministry should take up such matters and sensitize the various communities of this looming epidemic than attack the religious sensitivity of our Muslim brothers” he stated.
National Chief Imams Office Speaks,
The office of the National Chief Imam has rejected suggestions to Muslims in the country to adopt the modern ways of calling their members to prayers as against the old conservative way of using megaphones.
Daniel Koranteng Kwagyiri|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
