The Volta Regional Security Council has aborted plans to reopen the Ho Central Mosque.
REGSEC, led by the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu visited the Ho Zongo on May 7 with the intent to reopen the mosque following a bond of good behavior signed by leaders of the feuding groups.
The bond also enjoined the two leaders to commit to peace or serve a one-year jail term with hard labour in default.
The move was however aborted when the REGSEC’s engagement with the Zongo community took a dramatic turn.
Correspondent Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu reports that though the decision to reopen the mosque was welcomed by the Zongo community, the engagement degenerated into chaos when questions were asked as to who will lead prayers at the mosque.
The Regional Minister in his response noted that REGSEC does not have the power to determine who is the legitimate Volta Regional Chief Imam but added quickly, that the declaration made by the National Chief Imam is ultimate.
“As REGSEC, it’s not our mandate to determine who is the Regional Chief Imam and this was part of the discussion we had with the two leaders. However, the National Chief Imam made a declaration and when the incident happened he issued a statement that Alhaji Muniru Ali has been recognized as the Regional Chief Imam and that Alhaji Alfa Anas is the Deputy Regional Chief Imam.”
He further stated that at the point of the signing of the bond leading to the decision to reopen the mosque, REGSEC urged each of the leaders to engage the office of the National Chief Imam or the courts, if any of them is still dissatisfied with the substantive case.
This response got a section of the Zongo folks infuriated. They heckled and went on to reject a GHC10,000 donation the Minister made to support victims of the shooting incident that occurred at the mosque on Friday, 26th December, 2025.
The agitated group insisted that they will not accept any donations until the perpetrators behind the shooting incident are identified and punished accordingly.
In the ensuing encounter, the Regional Minister announced that REGSEC will not proceed with the reopening of the mosque.
Mr Gunu in his interview with the press said “the engagement with the community is to assess whether the ground is fertile for the reopening of the mosque but we realized that the ground is not fertile.”
“Interestingly, the two personalities who signed the bond are both not here. However, we have been told Alhaji Muniru is on his way from Accra, we waited and waited but he is not here. Alhaji Anas we are told is not well so I will visit him from here.”
The Regional Minister also told the media that REGSEC will further engage the various leaders until it is satisfied that it is safe to reopen the mosque.
The Ho Central Mosque was closed down in January this year following a shooting incident that left eleven worshippers injured.
The shooting incident was linked to the long standing impasse regarding who leads the Muslim community in the Volta region as the Regional Chief Imam.
By Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu
