Media Reportage on the Outbreak of Cholera Blown out of Proportion-Vice Chancellor

The media reportage on the purported outbreak of Cholera in the University of Cape Coast was blown out of proportion, according to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. D. D. Kuupole.

News went viral that over 150 people have been admitted at the university hospital for an alleged cholera outbreak, but the Vice Chancellor stated that the news was not entirely true.

While admitting that there were reported cases certainly of people vomiting, some with diarrhea but with no vomiting, many of those admitted at the hospital were members of the communities surrounding the university, adding that “when you walk into the hospital now, we don’t have even more than 10 people with such condition.”

He however admitted that the university had lost a second year student but explained that the said student had come from home the previous day before he was taken ill and rushed to the hospital where he passed on.

Prof. Kuupule advised students to observe cleanliness and be selective of where they bought food and water.

He said the issue of water had become a matter of concern because there were some reported cases of people who suffered problems after drinking some sachet water.

 He also advised students to rush to the hospital at any sign of sickness.

Meanwhile, Directorate of the hospital, Dr. Kabiru Aziz has stated that the death of the student could be linked to food poisoning because the said student reported to campus the previous day before he was taken ill, but cholera takes longer period before it manifest.

Story: Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf (Fayar)

UCC to Prohibit Students From Pursuing any issue of Political Interest in Court

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof D. D. Kuupole has made a strong statement that the student handbook would be reviewed to make it explicitly prohibited for students to pursue any issue of political interest in court.

This decision, he said, had become necessary, in order not to allow few selfish students to hold the whole university to ransom.

 “Student political activities on campus have reached an alarming proportion that students show complete disregard for the rules and regulations of the university and even go to the extent of placing positions they want to occupy in the very university over and above the aims and purposes on which they were admitted into the university,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor issued this warning at the matriculation ceremony to officially usher in the 2014/2015 batch of students admitted into the university on Saturday, September, 21, 2014.

While admitting that the formation of political grouping in itself was not a bad idea since it enable students to get actively involved in discussions of national and local interest as well as prepare students desirous of entering into national politics, Prof. Kuupole stated that the University of Cape Coast would not countenance situations in which students rush to take issues of political interest to court without following due process of resolving any misunderstanding and thereby disrupt the programmes of the university

He however said that the University of Cape Coast in principle tolerate the formation of political groupings, but the tendency where one political grouping enters into rivalry with other political groupings was absolutely abhorred by the university.

Story by:Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf (Fayar)
Communication Studies.

Jihad in Islam-A Concept Misconstrued

In this 21st century, several items of historical interest have evolved stirring a renewed global discourse on many issues, most principal among them is terrorism.

It has become a common scene for any person with a “goatee” beard donned in white or black “jalabia” branded as a terrorist. Any Muslim now attracts sneers and scorns wherever he or she goes, and is often looked with suspicious eye just because of the fear that the person might have a bomb shelved in his her cloths and might detonate it at any point in time.

Those bearing Islamic names desiring to fly to Europe or the US, the least said about them, the better! They are often subjected to vigorous scrutiny before being allowed to board flight. This is as a result of acts of terrorism that have occurred in this century. A clear case that comes to mind is 9/11 terrorists attack at the World Trade Center. Why should any act of terrorism branded as Jihadist?

Listening to the BBC, which of course is my favourite dial for many reasons but the most obvious of them is my strive to become a journalist, every terrorist group is often pronounced “Jihadist group” which literally goes to underpin the fact that the so-called group is fighting in the course of Islam, be it Al-Shabab, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya or whatever.. Funny enough, these terrorist groups bear Islamic names, a justified reason for calling any Muslim a terrorist.

My warm condolences to the families of those who have become victims of these blood-thirsty monsters who unleashed killing at innocent souls at Kenya.

The multi-million questions I often ponder are; “Are these people really fighting for Islam? Does the doctrine of Islam sanction killing fellow human being all in the name of Allah? Has the concept of Jihad misconstrued? Well, I sought to find out and have surfed through dozens of web-pages, the Qur’an and renowned Islamic scholars including Sheik Abdallah ibn Bayyah, Director for the Global Center of Renewal & Guidance, UK and a member of the European Research & Fatwa Council, Ireland and hope to share with readers on the concept of Jihad in Islam.

Concept of Jihad
Jihad is a beautiful concept that has been misused, whether by extremist adherence or by utter negligence. What does Jihad mean linguistically and technically? And why is it legislated in the Qur’an? In Arabic usage, Jihad is the “exertion of the utmost effort to achieve something that is probably desirable”. Religiously, Jihad has three types, as identified by Ar-Raghib in Al-Mufradat: (1) Jihad against an express enemy, (2) Jihad against Satan, and (3) Jihad against one’s own self.
The last two meanings are stated in several hadiths. For example, Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and Abu Dawud in his Sunan reported Fudalah Ibn `Ubayd as narrating that the Prophet said: “A true mujahid (believer) is the one who strives against his own self in obedience to Allah” (Authinticated by Al-Albani)

In a weak hadith reported by Al-Bayhaqi, Jabir narrated that, upon return from his last battle at Tabuk, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him said) said, “We have returned from the minor Jihad to the major Jihad” He interpreted it as meaning to combat one’s whims. In fact, taking care of one’s parents is a sort of Jihad. The Prophet said, "Then let your taking care of them be your Jihad." (Al-Bukhari)

Ibn Taymiyyah defined Jihad saying, “It encompasses all sorts of worship, whether inward or outward, including love of Allah, devotion to Him, reliance on Him, submission of one’s soul and property to Him, patience, asceticism, and continuing remembrance of Him. It takes all possible forms — physical, spiritual, mental, verbal, etc.” The first meaning, Jihad or fighting against hostile non-Muslims is the most common. Many Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths detailed its merits, conditions, and guidelines. History reveals significant instances and practices of it between Muslims and non-Muslims, which have ever been an object of large-scale attention and heated debate, wavering between glorification and condemnation, over enthusiasm and neglect.

Jihad in Islam is not necessarily synonymous to fighting; it has a much broader sense. Basically, it means to preach and defend what is right. In Surah Al-Furqan, Allah says, {And strive against them (i.e., advocates of falsehood) by means of it (i.e., the Qur’an), with the utmost strife.} (Al-Furqan 25:52) That is, refute false claims with every possible evidence. Obviously, recitation of the Qur’an has nothing to do with military actions. Therefore, not every Jihad should be fighting, and not every fighting should be Jihad. In its essence, Jihad is a call for freedom. Not every Jihad is a military action, nor is every military action Jihad. Ibn Khaldun divided warfare into four types, depending on the motive. He wrote; the origin of all wars is revengefulness, two wars are unjust: war of expansion and war of aggression. And two wars are just: war in defence of religion (Jihad) and war against rebels (sovereignty protection war, as he called it).

Forcing Islam on People
Embracing Islam under compulsion is unacceptable. Islamic Shari`ah is all based on free choice, and when free choice is lacking, one’s conducts shall have no effect, whether in beliefs, contracts, commitments, etc. This is substantiated in numerous texts in the Glorious Qur’an and Prophetic hadiths.

Allah says, {Let there be no compulsion in religion} (Al-Baqarah 2:256). This is a self-evident verse from this surah (Chapter), which was sent down in Medinah, where Muslims were gaining more and more power — contrary to the Pope’s claim that it was sent down when Muslims were weak. It is a regretful and ill-founded claim. The truth is, a number of youths from Al-Ansar (Madinan supporters of the Prophet) were raised among Jews, and their families wanted to force them to embrace their religion. Then, Allah forbade them, asserting the rule of non-compulsion.
Also, in Surat Yunus, Allah says, {Had your Lord so willed, all who are on the earth would have believed altogether. Will you, then, (be the one to) compel people so that they become believers?} (Yunus 10: 99)

He also says, in Surat Al-Kahf, {And say, the truth is from your Lord. So, whoever wills let him believe. And whoever wills let him disbelieve.} (Al-Kahf 18:29)
And in Surat Al-Ghashiyah, Allah says, {So, remind (people). You are but a reminder. You are not over them domineering} (Al-Ghashiyah 88: 21-22)

Similarly, when someone renounces Islam due to coercion, this renunciation shall have no effect. Allah says, {...except for one who has been compelled (to renounce his faith) while his heart remains at peace with faith} (An-Nahl 16:106). In Islamic jurisprudence, coercion is an unbearable pressure that renders contracts and commitments made thereunder null and void. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was reported to have said, “Allah has pardoned my Ummah (followers) for mistakes, forgetfulness, and that which they are forced to do” (Ibn Majah)

It is self-evident that Jihad is not fighting, contrary, it means to preach and defend what is right and therefore upon the above analysis given, one does not need a rocket scientist or soothsayer to understand that the doctrine of Islam abhors the act of terrorism being carried across the globe by so-called Jihadist group including Boko Haram, Al-Shabab, al-Qaeda or whatever.
God bless our homeland, Ghana and may He grant us understanding so that we will remain pure in thee.

About the writer: Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf 
 Communication Studies 
 University of Cape Coast.

Sanitation in UCC

A short documentary directed and produced by Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf about the state of sanitation at the science taxi station of the university.

A Blind Student

A short documentary directed and produced by Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf about a blind student who is making a giant stride.

Witches Camps in Northern Ghana-Reality or an Illusion?

The issue of witchcraft has become hydra-headed in human history, and has recorded  historical antecedence even from biblical times. The belief in witchcraft is strong throughout the country, and it is one of the   commonest themes in most Ghanaian and by extension African movies.The new brand of "Kumawood" movies are notorious for such movies, ranging from "Kyeiwaa", "Efie Bayie" among others.

With the advent of science and technology and its concomitant antidotes to the problems of humanity, one is perhaps wondering why some people in the 21^st century still ascribe sicknesses and other  calamities to the doing of witches. The question  that may linger in the minds of ratiocinative thinkers are how do the “witch doctors” determine who a witch is and what barometers are used to proof the guilt or innocence of these helpless souls and more importantly, why are only women branded witches? These are but few questions that are begging for answers.

Discrimination against women is prevalent in the three northern regions of Ghana, namely Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions where poverty is endemic. There are four established witch camps in the northern part  of Ghana namely Gambaga witches camp; located in the East Mamprusi District, Kpatinga witches camp; located in Yendi Municipal, Kukuo witches camp located in Nanumba South and Ngani witches camp located in the Eastern part of Yendi (John P. Kirby, 2009).

These witches’   camps are established as traditional shrines. They are truly intended to be sanctuaries and not prisons and are holding tanks of accused persons waiting to be saved for society. Most of the women are coerced to confess under compelling and dehumanizing circumstances. In some instances, they are made to drink concoctions prepared by the witch doctors.

The ‘witches’ camp’ at Gambaga is, among others, situated in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region of Ghana. It is a place where women who are accused of witchcraft stay under the authority of the Gambaga chief, the Gambarrana.

 Ironically, all the religious denominations have apparently reached consensus on the existence of witches on earth. At the Gambaga witches camp traditional rituals are performed by the chief to determine who qualifies to be a witch.

The number of inmates keeps on changing over the years due to strong advocacy by civil society groups. Gambaga witches camp housed over six hundred (600) inmates previously but now the number has gone down to as low as one hundred and thirty (130) due to strong advocacy against witches camps.

According to the people, most of the women in the camp were accused of witchcraft in their villages and then either brought by relatives or fled themselves to Gambaga,and once there, they are overseen by the chief, the Gambarrana, who is able to suppress their powers through ritual.

To determine whether a woman is a witch or not, the accused must come to the Gambarrana with the accuser and at least one man. A fowl is slaughtered and thrown in the air. If, when it lands and finishes struggling and lies on its side or stomach, the accused is perceived to be guilty. There are fees for the performance of this ritual. If 'convicted', the woman has her power neutralized with a further ritual that only remains effective close to the shrine where it was performed. The ‘witch’ is effectively confined to the local area and is forced to live communally in a camp.

But the mindboggling question is "Are only women that are witches? Local legends argue that men are equally guilty of witchcraft but are seen as influential and powerful in their communities and hence could not be forced out of their communities. However, women are vulnerable and do not have any power to influence society in most African communities.

Under the common understanding of witchcrafts in Northern Ghana, accused witches may be of any age. This is common in the Gambaga camp because it is believed that a witch could bequeath the witchcraft to her daughter or granddaughter .What about their sons or grandsons? 

In terms of statistics, older women and people with various forms of disabilities are commonly accused of witchcraft, a situation which is highly unacceptable. Like many other witches camps, Gambaga camp is in a deplorable state and there are no any reliable sources of sustenance.

Science and psychologists seem to agree that some of these accusations of witchcraft can be out of depression fueled by menopause and other psychological disorders.

Interacting with inmates, one could sense that the inmates survive largely through benevolent organizations and philanthropists who visit the camp once a while.

Equally disgusting in the camp is the plight of the children of the alleged witches. Most of them are often not in school and the few who are attending school do not have anybody to  sponsor their education after Junior High School leading to school drop-out.

Another issue of concern is about their right to vote during national elections. According to most women in Gambaga camp just like other witches camp, they are always denied their fair share of the national cake and for that matter they do not see why they should continue to vote without any assistance from government.   

Addressing these abuses in our Ghanaian context has special significance only on paper. Ghana is seen as a leader in human rights on the continent, most notably for our Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which extends access to justice where legal councils are few and the tradition of mediation is strong. As such, developments in the Ghanaian human rights law and practice have the potential to serve as model to other states. The persecution of persons accused of witchcraft in Ghana is mostly done by private actors with little government involvement or condoning of the practice.

 Although there have been some achievements from the campaign  for women’s rights  from the initiative of the Gambaga Outcast (GO) Home Project, little has been done beyond independent reporting to expose the situation of women and children living in the camp. Fostering awareness of witchcraft accusations and associated abuses, a distinct category of discrimination and violence is a first step in attending to this gender based inequality issue.

 The Presbyterian Church of Ghana had been working since the early1960s to ameliorate the conditions of women living at the Gambaga camp. In 1994, the Presbyterian Church formed the Go Home Project to go beyond providing relief to rehabilitate and reintegrate women to their homes. The intervention is thought to have led to “the reduction of the inhuman treatment”, as well as drastically lowering the number in the Home. Evaluators of the Project found that the way women were brought to the home was humiliating, dehumanizing and brutal, and that if advocacy efforts were intensified, this could be reduced and stopped.

 The main aim of the Go-Home Project was reintegration, but they also provided health care coverage for women and children in the camps, tuition and uniform fees coverage for camp children, and addressed human rights abuses through educational campaigns. Through the project, women were also interviewed as a sort of intake to the camp. A file was kept for each woman with information about her home village, trade, age, male children, and for some, release and follow-up information.

One may not be far from the truth to suggest that most cultural practices are unfavorable to women in northern Ghana as they continue to go through outmoded widowhood rites and do not have any right to inherit properties of their parents including land ownership. It is also disheartening to know that in the northern part of Ghana, women who are domineering and assertive are easily branded witches most especially when they are successful in their businesses.

Civil society groups must step up efforts to demystify the myth surrounding the age old concept of witchcraft which seems  not to have any  empirical basis.

writer:Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf

Communication Studies

University of Cape Coast

Religious Hypocrisy in Ghana

In recent months, several items of historical interest have surfaced stirring a renewed national discourse on many issues including the fast depreciation of the cedi on which some men of God have expressed their thoughts. The thoughts expressed by these men of God have ignited some rift among themselves leading one to wonder if it is the same God issuing different instructions and visions to separate servants.

It is becoming almost impossible to decipher the true men of God due to the antics adopted by charlatans posing as men of God, principally owing to the mushrooming of many churches in almost every crevice of the country.

In the name of religion, residential areas no more have the serene atmosphere expected of these places of abode. Religious zealots have taken over almost any space in the country.

But the irony is that, the lifestyles and the moral standing of some of these so called men of God are staid and appalling such that not even a day or week passes by without news about a so-called man of God either swindling, sexually abusing, exploiting, attempting to murder or extorting money from their naïve followers who are so eager to find their way to the bosom of the creator.

In as much as religion is the soul of every society and by extension country, it is also high time the behavior of some so-called men of God are fine tuned to reflect the very gospel they preach about.

Religion has a core mandate to transform the lives of the marginalized and the socially handicapped by bestowing hope, understanding and drawing people closer to their maker, but contrary, we have wittingly or unwittingly raised some men of God to sainthood, making it blasphemous for any person to scrutinize their actions or criticize them even when they cross the line. Some people would immediately demand your head on the chopping board and declare you evil when one tries to criticize some so-called men of God.

Maybe the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche was right when he wrote “God is Dead and needs a replacement” because people have exploited God’s name to commit so many murderous crimes and seem to go scot free.

The Christian Bible tells us that when the rich man went to Jesus seeking for eternal life, Jesus told him to give all his possession to charity, and come and follow him, Jesus did not tell him to bring his possession to him, but what do we see today? Many religious leaders are turning into millionaires at the expense of their followers who continue to wallow in abject penury.

Excessive religious extremism is the handiwork of the plethora of the myriad of problems that are staring us in the faces such as those happening in Central African Republic and Nigeria.

The sages succinctly advice that, the right to swing one’s arms end where another person’s nose begins. As much as you have the right to religion, also remember that people also have their rights to a quiet life. A thundering deafening payer that disturbs the peace of your neighbor cannot be the righteous way because the same God require us to love our neighbours, and if you love a neighbour you would respect their rights and feelings.

Writer: Abdul-Karim Mohammed Awaf
University of Cape Coast
Abdulkarimmohammedawaf.blogspot.com