Fear God, don’t extort the health situation to enrich yourselves–Sheikh Shaibu tells Ghanaians

The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu has appealed to Ghanaians to desist from using the current health crisis (COVID-19) which has plunged many nations into economic difficulties and killed millions of people across the globe to enrich themselves at the detriment of the poor.

He said this in an interfaith Facebook programme organised by the Light Foundation as part of efforts by the organisation to propagate the gospel and educate the public on COVID-19 among other things.

According to information sourced by OpenLife from Ebenezer Kofi Amponsah

of the  Africa News Network, the Light foundation is an Islamic Non Governmental Organisation aimed at providing a sustainable development and supporting the needy and vulnerable in society.

Shaibu  noted that while the government is taken measures such as lock down to help  prevent the spread of the disease, other people such as transport owners, market women, businessmen among others have taken advantage of the situation and increased the services and prices at ‘extortionist levels’ with the aim of making abnormal profit.

He said “If you believe in Allah or God, you will not  hurt your neighbour, if you take the christian point of view of neighbourliness, love your neighbour as thy self. People in your office, in a compound home, in taxis, in trotro, in taxis, in the market, who are those you consider as your neighbours? All these people are your neighbours. So doing this to them is Haram in the Qu’ran

He maintained that if christians, muslims are mindful of the principles of their faith they would not exploit the current circumstance to make gains describing it as profiteering, immoral, unethical considering the cultural and traditional values that underpins relationships.

He also mentioned that increasing the prices of goods and services at the detriment of the poor undermines government’s efforts of supporting residents in affected regions and communities.

He added “under no circumstance should we exploit the current circumstance because when we do so, we undermine  government efforts. Government is taken over electricity, water bills in order to provide some form of relief to the less fortunate, why do we raise the price to extortionate levels? That is anti state and unpatriotic. As Africans, we have a certain communal philosophy of our relationship.

He therefore advised all Ghanaians to rather sacrifice and support the government under the present circumstance.

The Islamic cleric also appealed to people who are capable of giving to the poor, in this  period when some people cannot feed, to do so and attract God’s blessings.

“Giving is a way to unlock the key of God’s blessings. The more you give the more you receive from God, We must give to the poor and support the weak. When you are rich your riches should be relevant to the people around you. We should love God/Allah, love ourselves and neighbours.

He further called on all Ghanaians to stringently observe protocols on COVID-19 to help mitigate the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Sheikh Aremeyaw also asked Ghanaians to pray earnestly for God’s intervention in this difficult times that the world continues to find a vaccine for the virus stating ‘Is the Almighty God alone who can give us final protection and as we pray, he knows the beginning and end of everything.

The Light Foundation (TLF), which was established over a decade ago, operates in the following areas: water sanitation and Hygiene, women and children issues and advocacy.

Other areas includes Infrastructure, scholarship and skills development.