News Guide Africa

Tag: Ramadan

  • National Chief Imam is an embodiment of peace, compassion, and love, ADB MD

    National Chief Imam is an embodiment of peace, compassion, and love, ADB MD

    The Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB PLC), Edward Ato Sarpong, has stated that the National Chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, embodies peace, compassion, and love as he (ADB MD) hosted Muslim staff and partners to the end of Ramadan Iftar at the Bank’s Head Office on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

    Ato Sarpong also used the platform to wish Muslims across the globe Eid-ul-Fitr, an Islamic festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

    “On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, and Staff of ADB PLC, I extend our warmest Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to our valued customers, partners, and the general public,” the ADB MD stated.

    Ato Sarpong noted that Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of a period of reflection, discipline, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal. It is a time that calls for gratitude, compassion, and unity, which are values that remain central to our identity and operations as a bank.

    “As we celebrate this important occasion, we draw inspiration from the exemplary leadership of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, whose life continues to embody peace, compassion, and love,” Ato Sarpong said.

    “His unwavering commitment to unity and coexistence serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in harmony and mutual respect,” the MD added.

    At ADB, we remain committed to delivering innovative financial solutions, strengthening relationships with our customers, partners, and contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of our economy and Ghana as a whole.

    We sincerely appreciate your continued trust and partnership and remain committed to supporting your journey every step of the way.

    May this blessed occasion bring peace to your hearts, joy to your homes, and abundant blessings to your lives. May Allah accept your prayers and reward your sacrifices.

    Whilst extending the message of felicitation to the Muslim community, the MD reiterated the Bank’s unwavering commitment to redefining banking, empowering businesses, building futures, driving prosperity, and nurturing communities.

     

     

     

     

  • Garkuwa Foundation feeds over 400 homes in Ramadan gesture

    Garkuwa Foundation feeds over 400 homes in Ramadan gesture

    Koforidua, Eastern Region – The Garkuwa Foundation has distributed assorted food items to over 400 households in Koforidua as part of its annual Ramadan support programme.

    The gesture targeted vulnerable groups including widows, orphans and the destitute, with special emphasis on Imams led by Eastern Regional Imam, Sheikh Yussif Amudani.

    Beneficiaries received allocations to ease economic pressures during the holy month.

    Imam Amudani, receiving the items at the Koforidua Central Mosque, expressed profound gratitude.

    “This provision arrives at a pivotal moment, alleviating strains on families devoted to the sacred duties of Ramadan,” he stated.

    Founder and Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Mukhtar Umar Braimah, known as Garkwan Gabas, hailed the Imams as “esteemed leaders [who] demonstrate fortitude and service.”

    “Supporting them during this period is important,” he added.

    Alhaji Braimah said the initiative underscores the Foundation’s commitment to communal welfare in line with Islamic principles of zakat and compassion.

    He announced plans to transform the Koforidua Central Mosque into an ultra-modern facility with enhanced amenities.

    The Foundation, a registered not-for-profit, also supports education for needy students and skills training for Zango youth.

     

     

  • Ramadan: Not Just a Month of Fasting but a Month of Elevation

    Ramadan: Not Just a Month of Fasting but a Month of Elevation

    Writer: Mohammed Ali

    Although it takes many different forms, fasting is strongly encouraged and supported in religious settings. Accordingly, fasting was a common practice among all messengers and prophets of God as a spiritual devotion to their Creator.

    King David (AS) said, “…I humbled myself with fasting…” (Psalm 35:13, New King James Version; see Ezra 8:21). Elijah (AS) fasted while escaping Jezebel (1 Kings 19:4-8). Moses (AS) fasted before receiving the Commandments (Deuteronomy 9:9-18), Jesus/Isa (AS) fasted before temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:1-2), and Lent, 40 days of fasting, is currently being observed among the Christian faith across the globe.

    In Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is the Fourth of the Five Pillars of the Muslim faith. Qur’an chapter 2:183 states, “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.”

    Ramadan arrives not as a burden, but as a whisper to the soul, a gentle call to return, to rise, to remember who we truly are beneath the noise of the world. It comes like a sacred pause, slowing time so hearts can breathe again and spirits can find their way back home.

    It is not hunger that defines Ramadan, but awakening. The empty stomach becomes a vessel filled with awareness; every hunger and pain a reminder that we are more than flesh and desire. As the body weakens, the soul strengthens. As the world quiets, the heart begins to speak.

    The dawn carries intention, the sunset carries gratitude, and between them lies a journey of unseen transformation. In the stillness of fasting, distractions fall away like leaves in autumn, revealing the raw sincerity of worship. Tears fall more easily, prayers linger longer, and hope feels closer than ever before.

    “The month of Ramadhan is that month in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion…” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185). As such, the nights of Ramadan are alive with longing, whispered duas (supplications) rising like stars into the sky, Qur’anic verses flowing like rivers through weary hearts.

    In the silence before dawn, believers stand alone yet never alone, in sujuud alone, yet never alone, and on their knees, searching for forgiveness, reaching for mercy, yearning for closeness to the One who knows every hidden struggle.

    Ramadan teaches us to see differently. To feel the hunger of the forgotten. To hear the silent cries of the needy. To give not from abundance but from love. It reminds us that true wealth lies not in what we hold but in what we release.

    And within this sacred month, something extraordinary happens: hearts soften, egos bend, and souls begin to heal. Anger loses its grip. Pride melts away. The weight we have carried quietly begins to lift. Ramadan becomes a mirror reflecting who we are, and who we are capable of becoming.

    It is a ladder of light placed before us, inviting us to climb higher than yesterday’s self. Every fast, every prayer, every act of kindness becomes a step upward, toward mercy, toward peace, toward Allah.

    When Ramadan ends, it leaves behind more than memories. It leaves a changed heart, a softened spirit, a believer who has tasted elevation. Because Ramadan was never only about abstaining, it was about ascending.

    May this fasting increase our sense of humility and duty to the poor and to our Creator. May we succeed both in this world and the hereafter. Ramadan Mubarak! Happy Lent!

     

     

     

     

     

  • Mahama Urges Unity, Compassion in Ramadan Message to the Nation

    Mahama Urges Unity, Compassion in Ramadan Message to the Nation

    ​ACCRA – In a heartfelt address to the nation as the holy month begins, President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to embrace the spirit of discipline, generosity, and national unity.

    ​The message, issued jointly with the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama, comes at a significant moment for the country as it navigates a critical economic “Reset” and prepares for the rollout of the newly enacted 24-Hour Economy Authority Act.

    ​A Season of Reflection and Renewal

    ​President Mahama described Ramadan as a “blessed threshold” for spiritual growth and community bonding. He emphasized that the essence of the fast transcends the mere abstention from food, focusing instead on the moral purification and the strengthening of faith (Imān).

    ​”Ramadan is truly a special time; a month of reflection, renewal, and coming together as one community,” the President stated. “May your prayers be answered, your good deeds be accepted, and may this Ramadan bring you closer to your Creator and to one another.”

    ​The Call to Generosity

    ​The President highlighted compassion for the less fortunate as a central pillar of the month. He encouraged those breaking their fast each evening with family and friends to remember the vulnerable in society, urging a national display of discipline and generosity that extends beyond the Muslim community to all Ghanaians.

    ​”The true beauty of Ramadan lies not just in abstaining from food, but in the discipline, compassion, and generosity we show to all, especially to those less fortunate,” he added.

    ​Unity as a Pillar of National Stability

    ​With Ghana’s religious tolerance often cited as a benchmark in the sub-region, President Mahama used the occasion to advocate for deeper social cohesion. He urged citizens to use the holy month to mend fences and strengthen the “bonds of unity, love, and peace” across the country.

    ​This message of harmony aligns with his recent remarks at the 32nd Annual Ramadan Conference in Takoradi, where he cautioned against religious bigotry and described tolerance as a “precious commodity” that anchors Ghana’s stability.

    ​Spirituality and National Duty

    ​As the 2026 Ramadan fast begins, many see the President’s message as a call for spiritual support for his administration’s ambitious “Reset Agenda.” By fostering a culture of 24-hour productivity as recently legalized by the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill the President is looking to leverage the discipline observed during Ramadan as a blueprint for national work ethics and communal progress.

    ​The statement concluded with a warm blessing: “Ramadan Mubarak! May Allah accept your worship.”

  • Pregnancy and fasting: a threat to zero maternal mortality goal?

    Pregnancy and fasting: a threat to zero maternal mortality goal?

    By Fouziyah Abdul Latiff (Nurse and Health Writer)

     

    Health practitioner has alarmed of a looming danger and threat to the global agenda of ‘Zero Maternal Mortality’ as some pregnant women are forcing themselves to join the Muslims month of fasting in Ramadan.

     

    A Principal Physician Assistant who double as Monitoring and Evaluation expert in the Savannah Region of Ghana, is worried against the insistence of some pregnant women in the West Gonja municipality to fast against medical advice.

     

    The Physician alarmed that, pregnant women in the municipality are noted for having very low haemoglobin levels that require the intake of a well-balanced diet alongside hematinic to correct their anaemia status. So fasting for a month with such abnormal maternal health conditions is considered as a threat to the quest for zero maternal death in the sub-municipality since mothers at the point of delivery might not have enough energy and strength to push for the baby to be delivered.

     

    “In some cases, some of these women are rushed into the labour ward fasting and no amount of plea from the midwife would convince them to break their fast”, Nuhu Kantamah Abdul Ganiyu lamented during an interview.

     

    ”We are calling on all stakeholders especially the health workers and the Imams to assist in educating some of these pregnant women and their husbands against this practice,” he said.

     

    He explained that maternal and child mortality is a public health threat globally. According statistics there were an estimated 830 maternal deaths each day in 2015.

     

    “The majority (99%) of these deaths occur in rural communities of developing countries with more than half of the deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

     

    “The ratio of maternal mortality in developing countries such as Ghana is 239 per 100,000 live births in 2015. (WHO, 2018),” he said.

     

    “Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam which is obligatory for every adult Muslim except the sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women on their menses and the traveller,” he concluded.

     

    Acoording many research and the Islamic theology fasting while pregnant is not recommended.

     

    During the month of Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset. This represents a form of intermittent fasting where both the quantity and quality of food eaten are altered. Although pregnant Muslim women are exempt from fasting, evidence suggests that up to 90% partake in Ramadan fasting for at least part of the month, being keen to share the cultural experience with their families.

     

    A systematic review and meta-analysis by a group of research (Jocelyn D. Glazier et al) indicates that, “the estimate of 230 million Muslim women of childbearing age worldwide, with a fertility rate averaging 3.1 children per woman, leads to the potential for up to 535 million babies in each generation to be exposed in utero over Ramadan to a repeated cyclical pattern of maternal intermittent fasting.

     

    “Exposure to a restricted or sub-optimal diet during pregnancy affects fetal development and has life-long health impacts on the offspring. Low birth weight and altered neonatal growth trajectories are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and impaired cognitive function. Preterm delivery and reduced birth weight are more prevalent in women who eat less frequently while pregnant, suggesting that pregnant women who fast during Ramadan may be more likely to give birth to premature or underweight babies.”

     

    Consequently, although the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on the health of the child has been investigated, individual studies show conflicting results and sample sizes are often too small to allow evaluation of serious, but infrequent, outcomes. Furthermore, the timing of exposure to maternal fasting during Ramadan may affect the outcome, yet the trimester of fetal exposure to fasting is generally poorly defined in studies. Although fasting could arise at any pregnancy stage, occurrence early in the first trimester seems most likely as the mother may be unaware that she is already pregnant. Fasting during the first trimester has been reported to be associated with reduced birth weight, whereas placental weight, another predictor of health outcomes in offspring, is reportedly lower if the mother fasted during the second or third trimester.

     

    It is therefore better for Muslim women may have to seek advice from health practitioners regarding the safety of Ramadan fasting; however the current information available to pregnant women is contradictory and clear guidance is lacking. Therefore, available evidence regarding associations between Ramadan fasting and pregnancy outcomes needs to be evaluated.

     

     

     

     

  • NDC Supports Muslim Communities With Items During Ramadan

    NDC Supports Muslim Communities With Items During Ramadan

    The Okaikoi Central Constituency Executive Committee today joined the National Zango Caucus Team under the leadership of the Coordinator Alhaji Mohammed Cole Younger, on behalf of H.E. John Dramani Mahama to present provisions in support of Muslim Communities during this Holy Month of RAMADAN.

    The donation was presented through the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu and the National Ahlu Sunna Leader, Sheikh Ummar Ibrahim.

    The presentation was done separately to the sheikh’s at their residence (New Fadama & Abeka) respectively.

    The delegation includes; Alhaji Yahya Kundow, Alhaji Naziru Mohammed, Alhaji Mohammed Ashka, Chairman Ibrahim Musah etc.

    Credit: Ibrahim Osumanu Samandulgu, OKAIKOI CENTRAL COMMUNICATION OFFICER

  • Muslims suffering in Ramadan under Bawumia’s economic hardship – Alhaji Naziru

    Muslims suffering in Ramadan under Bawumia’s economic hardship – Alhaji Naziru

    The National Zango Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has blamed the financial hardship resulting in the inability of some Muslims to observe the holy Ramadan month on Vice president Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

    The caucus said it is disappointed in Bawumia– a practicing Muslim and the head of the country’s economic management team– has mismanaged the economy thereby imposing hardship on the average Muslim.

    Alhaji Mohammed Naziru, the National Communications Officer NDC Zango Caucus blamed the high inflation and rise in commodity prices on the free fall of the cedi which ought to have been managed well by Bawumia.

    “Much as they may be external causes to Ghana’s economic crisis, one can not runaway from the profligate and ostentatious lifestyle of the President and his appointees supervised by the first Muslim head of Ghana’s economic management team,” Naziru noted in a statement in which he chronicled the woes of the Muslim during Ramadan.

    “Interestingly, the prices of Oil, Sugar and Rice, (a basic necessity to feed the nation) has so much skyrocketed that an average Muslim dare not attempt to buy,” he added.

    This development, he stated, “is largly due to the weakness of the Ghana cedis against the major international trading currency(USD) under the watch of a Muslim head of economic management team.”

    Below is the statement from the NDC Zango Caucus

    The Woes of a Practicing Muslim under a Muslim Vice President- 2022 Ramadan.

    All too soon, the 2022 Ramadan season is hear with us and every Muslim practicing or not, knows the financial requirements to making a fasting sustainable.

    One of the major campaign messages of the NPP in the zangos has remained the fact that the NPP are the only political party to have a Muslim brother as a sitting vice President and automatic head of the economic management team, this campaign message was executed in Gurg style to let it stuck in the minds of our Zango people.

    The fact that Ghana’s economy is in tatters today is not a classified information since the Government itself has admitted the economy of Ghana is on life support.

    Much as they may be external causes to Ghana’s economic crisis, one can not runaway from the profligate and ostentatious lifestyle of the President and his appointees supervised by the first Muslim head of Ghana’s economic management team.

    This write up seeks only to elucidate the woes of a practicing Muslim under a Muslim head of economic management team and let the cheers fall where they may.

    First of all, the practicing Muslim in Ghana will for the first time since 1992 start the Ramadan fast with a delayed salary, courtesy the negligence of the economic managers making his/her home dry, thus, taking away the euphoria that greets the month of Ramadan and the excitement it brings.

    Under a Muslim head of economic management team, Muslims in Ghana are experiencing a cheater speed inflation to the extent that they have to pay more than 100% more for the same commodities they bought in 2016.

    Interestingly, the prices of Oil, Sugar and Rice, (a basic necessity to feed the nation) has so much skyrocketed that an average Muslim dare not attempt to buy. This is largly due to the weakness of the Ghana cedis against the major international trading currency(USD) under the watch of a Muslim head of economic management team, living the mostly poor Muslims vulnerable.

    Interestingly, Bawumia who is the head of economic management team is known for sharing tons of goodies to secure his bid to lead the NPP. Once again he will move into the Muslim communities with rice and other goodies without ignominy albeit in the form of support to our Muslim folks. But the question is, can the cedi be strong against the dollar if he continues to buy foreign rice? A question to the Muslim Vice President.

    We all witness the cries of our local rice farmers for lack of ready market for their harvest leading to post harvest loses and low returns on investments thus forcing the poor rice farmer out of business.

    In the face of all these glaring danger and in compliance with NPP’s own promise to boost local production, I challenge the vice president of the Republic of Ghana and the head of economic management team to ensure that all the goodies he intends to share as usual in the Muslim community should be “Made in Ghana”, so as to protect our local industry.

    Again, in a rather astonishing circumstances, the Muslim head of economic management team has decided in what can best be described as “target hitting” to introduce the killer E-levy at a time when the entire Muslim community- who’s economic activities are fueled largely with remittances from families abroad- and are looking forward to more remittances to undergo the Ramadan fast, celebrate Eid- fitr and probably pay for Hajj.

    In conclusion, it will certainly not be far fetched to say Muslims in Ghana may suffer more under the prevailing economic circumstances with a Muslim vice President and head of economic management team than they have suffered under a non Muslim head of the country’s economic management.

    I sympathise with all our Muslim brethren who are finding it difficult to fast as a result of no food and to others the high cost of commodities which has been bestowed on us by the Bawumia/Nana Addo Govt.

    We must therefore use this period of Ramadan to pray for Allah’s intervention in the affairs of Ghana.

    I wish all our Muslim brethren a happy Ramadan and I implore all those who have some extra food items to share with the poor.

    May Allah help us to overcome these hardships.

    Thank you

    Alhaji Mohammed Naziru

    Nat. Communications officer NDC Zango caucus

    Zib69@yahoo.com

    0244285223