Ghana Interior Ministry and Security Agencies Act to Quell Religious Tensions Following Cleric Arrests and Custody Breach

13th August•3 min read•20 sources

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ghana Police Service have moved to contain escalating religious tensions following the arrests of two prominent clerics for inciteful remarks and a subsequent breach of police custody. The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to conduct a thorough investigation into how civilians gained access to a suspect, Apostle Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, while he was in police detention. The directive follows the circulation of a viral video showing a civilian, Sibamay Zakaria (also known as Papa Angola), assaulting the handcuffed Apostle. The Minister has mandated disciplinary actions against any police officers found complicit in the breach, asserting that no violation of the law justifies an assault on a person in state custody.

The initial arrests centered on Imam Masud Abdullah, 35, and Apostle Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, both of whom were apprehended for making inflammatory statements regarding Prophet Mohammed. Imam Abdullah was detained for allegedly endorsing violence against those who insult the Prophet, while Apostle Adjei faced charges for using derogatory language in a separate video. Following the assault on the Apostle, police launched a manhunt and successfully arrested 63-year-old Sibamay Zakaria. The Ghana Hajj Board and the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) have since issued statements distancing themselves from Zakaria, clarifying that he holds no official position within their organizations.

In response to these events, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Zango Institute for Development (ZID) have called for maximum restraint and the preservation of interfaith harmony. The CCG condemned the physical assault of Apostle Adjei and urged security services to ensure justice is applied fairly across religious lines. Similarly, the ZID emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution through dialogue rather than violence, urging Ghanaians to reject provocative rhetoric. The Ghana Police Service has issued a stern warning to the public, emphasizing that while freedoms of religion and expression are guaranteed, they do not provide a license to incite violence or disorder.

Efforts to de-escalate the situation have also involved political and community mediation. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, recently facilitated bail for Apostle Adjei after an amicable resolution was reached involving representatives from both the Christian and Muslim communities. Amidst these tensions, other political figures, including Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, have highlighted the essential need for the state and faith-based institutions to collaborate on national development rather than succumb to division. These incidents underscore the delicate balance between religious influence and the rule of law in Ghana, where the government continues to urge citizens to prioritize national unity and institutional integrity over sectarian grievances.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Ghana Interior Ministry and Security Agencies Act to Quell Religious Tensions Following Cleric Arrests and Custody Breach

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