National Chief Imam lauds Akufo-Addo
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has described Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s swift decision to accept the judgement of the Supreme Court and congratulating President Dramani Mahama as “a heroic achievement”.
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He also commended Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the 2012 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for choosing not to seek review; a move he said would strengthen the peace of the country to the admiration of the international community.
The Chief Imam was at Nana Akufo-Addo’s Nima residence in Accra yesterday to reciprocate a visit Nana Akufo-Addo paid him prior to petitioning the court on the 2012 election and also to laud him for accepting the judgement.
Last Thursday, the nine-member Supreme Court, presided over by Justice William Atuguba upheld President John Dramani Mahama’s election as the President of the Republic of Ghana.
By that decision, the Supreme Court threw out the petition filed by the Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, the National Chairman of the NPP.
The Chief Imam stated that by the exhibition of that courageous act, Nana Akufo-Addo had shown to the entire world that although he wanted to be President of Ghana and seek the development of the nation, he had at all times had the unity and peace of the nation at heart.
Sheikh Sharubutu gave thanks to Allah for granting Ghanaians the peace they sought and asked them not to cease thanking Allah for protecting the people of Ghana. He quoted Quran Chapter 14 verse 7 which states, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”
For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo said the serene atmosphere that had pertained in the country after the judgement was the desire of the people of Ghana to show that “we are once again the Black Star of this continent”.
He said with their confidence in the rule of law and the institutions of state, Ghanaians would remain peaceful, accept the verdict and serve as a shining example to the rest of the African continent.
He said it was very crucial for him to set a good example for Ghanaians, especially the youth; that was the reason behind his decision to accept the verdict immediately after the Supreme Court had pronounced it.
Nana Akufo-Addo said he came from a home which formed part of the traditions that pioneered Ghanaian’s independence struggle and that formed the basis for his decision to always put the interest of the nation first.
He said his decision to accept the verdict was in fulfillment of a promise he made to the Chief Imam and that “In all humility, you are someone I consider as my father and I will never go back on a promise I made to you.”
“I wanted a peaceful resolution of the matter that was why we went to court. We also wanted to prove to the world that Ghana is different from many other countries. I cannot lie to you, God will not forgive me, if I did that”, Nana Akufo-Addo told the Chief Imam.
He said as a lawyer, he was aware that when law courts decide on cases, there was the likelihood that one would lose or win.
By Donald Ato Dapatem/Daily Graphic/Ghana
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