Grabbed! The two suspects
The Ghana Police Service has arrested two religious clerics over alleged inflammatory and offensive remarks concerning Prophet Mohammed.
The suspects are 35-year-old Islamic preacher and Imam, Masud Abdullah, and Christian cleric Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, popularly known as Apostle Daniel JY Adjei.
The two are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
Masud Abdullah was arrested in a joint operation involving the Police and the National Signals Bureau (NSB).
According to the police, Abdullah allegedly made statements advocating violence against anyone who spoke ill of Prophet Mohammed during a sermon at a mosque at Ntensere, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, sparked concerns among many Ghanaians, who described the remarks as capable of encouraging violence and threatening the country’s long-standing culture of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The controversy attracted the attention of Muslim leaders, including Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and a member of the Ghana Peace Council.
Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu condemned the comments, describing them as dangerous and inconsistent with the principles of peace and respect that have guided relations between Ghana’s various religious communities. He warned that statements of such nature could create fear, tension and instability if left unchecked.
The National Chief Imam’s spokesperson also called for Imam Masud Abdullah to be arrested and interrogated by the appropriate authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the remarks. He stressed that religious disagreements or perceived insults against religious figures must be handled through Ghana’s legal system rather than through threats or personal acts of retaliation.
According to Sheikh Aremeyaw, allowing individuals to take matters into their own hands could undermine national peace and create a dangerous precedent in a democratic society where the rule of law must prevail.
Following the public reaction, Imam Masud Abdullah reportedly apologised for his comments, explaining that his statement was made during a discussion on Islamic teachings and was not intended to promote unlawful actions.
In a separate operation, the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team arrested Apostle Daniel JY Adjei after a video surfaced in which he allegedly made derogatory and offensive comments about Prophet Mohammed.
The police said the two suspects would be processed for court after investigations had been completed.
Police Warning
Following the arrests, the police issued a stern warning to religious leaders, social media commentators and community influencers against making statements capable of inciting violence or hatred.
The security agency stressed that the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and freedom of expression did not give anyone the right to incite violence or encourage others to harm people.
“Freedom of religion and freedom of expression must never be used as justification for inciting violence or encouraging members of the public to harm others,” the police stated.
The police warned that persons who breached the law through inflammatory statements or actions would be arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law.
The latest arrests come amid growing concerns over inflammatory religious content and statements that could threaten Ghana’s peace and religious tolerance.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi
