Reports from Bechem, the Tano South District Capital in the Ahafo Region, say the Local Imam of Bechem, Alhaji Gariba Ibrahim has died.
Imam Gariba who was at the centre of the ongoing dispute between Northern Tribal Chiefs and some Hausas in the Tano North District Capital, is said to have collapsed and died as a result of the tension in the Islamic Community last night.
The Bono Regional Secretary of the Peace Council, Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah, disclosed this to GBC’s Radio Ghana in Sunyani.
A dispute over the ownership of a piece of land between Northern Tribal Chiefs and some Hausas has resulted in the temporary closure of the Bechem Central Mosque and increased security in and around the mosque.
The late Imam was at the centre of the dispute as he was accused by the Council of Northern Tribal Chiefs of trying to aid some Hausas claiming ownership of a piece of land said to belong to the Islamic Community.
The Council of Northern Tribal Chiefs consequently wrote to the Imam suspending him. This led to tension between the Chiefs and their people and supporters of the Imam, leading to the closure of the Central Mosque.
It is against this backdrop that the Imam, Alhaji Gariba Ibrahim collapsed and died later.
According to the Bono Regional Secretary of the Peace Council, Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah, the death of the Imam, will make the peace building process harder.
