Ashanti Chief Imam to SDA Church: Break Sabbath silence, vote on 7 December
The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, has made a passionate appeal to members of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, urging them to participate in the upcoming general elections on 7 December. This date, which falls on a Saturday, coincides with the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship observed by the SDA … The post Ashanti Chief Imam to SDA Church: Break Sabbath silence, vote on 7 December appeared first on Asaase Radio.
The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, has made a passionate appeal to members of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, urging them to participate in the upcoming general elections on 7 December.
This date, which falls on a Saturday, coincides with the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship observed by the SDA Church. Concerns were raised within the Adventist community about their participation in the electoral process.
Speaking at a programme organised by the SDA Church in Kumasi, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun acknowledged the religious concerns surrounding the election day. He however implored the church members to reconsider their stance.
He emphasised the importance of civic duty and encouraged the SDA community to exercise their right to vote, even on the Sabbath, for the sake of their future and the nation’s stability.
“Let me speak to something that concerns me. It’s about your decision not to vote on Saturday, December 7th. Voting in the elections is important for both God and our country. Once, an election was held on a Friday, but as Muslim leaders, we encouraged our members to vote first and then go to worship Allah. I kindly ask the SDA leadership to encourage your members to go out and vote on 7 December”, the Islamic cleric stated.
Background
Early this year, the Seventh-day Adventist Church made a strong case for an amendment to the 7 December election which falls on a Saturday.
The church, in separate petitions first to the Electoral Commission (EC), says the elections would have to be moved from the conventional December 7 because the date falls on a Saturday, which will conflict with the Sabbath, a holy day dedicated to the worship of God.
Additionally, the Church is taking steps by sending another petition to the Attorney General and pushing for an amendment of the constitutional provisions which restricts the period of organising parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana.
SDA is right
Former Member of Parliament, Inusah Fuseini, had stated that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not wrong in requesting a change in the election date of 7 December 2024.
He told Accra-based JoyFM that if the government is interested in including the church in deciding who becomes the president of the country, their concerns ought to be taken seriously.
Also, a Member of Parliament’s Christian Fellowship, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has stated that Parliament is awaiting the Attorney General’s advice on the SDA Church’s request for an amendment to the 7 December date.
The lawmaker said the petition has not come to Parliament’s attention, adding that it is news to him.
“We are waiting if the Attorney General will listen to them and bring it to us. Then, we will look at the petition and whether there is merit in taking that amendment at all.”
The Ho West MP noted that although the 7 December date has been cast in stone, their petition ought to be given a listening ear for the country to decide given their substantial membership.
“If you look at the numbers of about 395,000 members, it clearly shows that it has at least close to about one per cent of Ghana’s population and so it is worth listening to them and also looking at the merit in it,” he added.
Private Legal Practitioner, Martin Kpebu, had also suggested that early voting be held for the church as it is done for the security agencies. This, he said can be done if only the state will be willing to absolve the cost involved.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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The post Ashanti Chief Imam to SDA Church: Break Sabbath silence, vote on 7 December appeared first on Asaase Radio.
