The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has donated GHC50, 000 towards the construction of the National Cathedral, with a call on Ghanaians to see themselves as one.
He made the presentation to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral Project, Apostle Opoku Onyinah, at his Fadama residence in Accra yesterday.
The Chief Imam expressed his excitement about the desire to help in the construction of the cathedral, saying it goes to deepen the peaceful co-existence the country enjoys.
He noted that people of all faiths trace their origin to a common source, and should therefore not be divided on religious grounds.
“Allah created us into races and tribes. Why this kind of diversity? So that you will acknowledge each other and support each other. It is not because you should come and fight and get in conflict because of your diversity. We are therefore thankful to the almighty God that we can show to the world that God’s intention is not that humanity will be engulfed in perpetual war and conflict,” he said.
“God has made it unique to owe the followers of different religions and there are no disharmony or conflict between us. We are living in peace; we can sit around the same table on the same chair and we are helping each other. This kind of favour God has done to us as a nation, we must acknowledge that and let us not do anything to destroy the peace,” he added.
He further cautioned Ghanaians not to “allow politics to come in between us and break our relationships.”
“Let us keep politics aside and get united so that we can dialogue amongst ourselves in such a way that we will deepen our relationship and then help our country in peace.
“Anything that will come confronting us as a challenge, let us meet together just us we are meeting and then find ourselves of bringing back order and harmony so that other nations will learn from us,” he added.
Appreciation
Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah also urged all Ghanaians, especially people of different religious faiths, to emulate the gesture.
“We are overwhelmed and lost for words. This is a big gesture, and we appreciate it. I think many people, including Christians and Muslims, will follow what the Chief Imam has done,” Apostle Opoku Onyinah said.
Responding to criticisms that the government should not be soliciting funds for the project, Apostle Onyinah said “the project is a mighty project that is going to demonstrate many things. It has the potential of bringing the world to Ghana because of the museum and biblical garden.”
