If separation of church (or mosque, temple, and synagogue) from state is a primary tenement of a functioning democracy, and Ghana is a functioning democracy, why has Government continued to play a key role in organising the annual Hajj?
Once upon a time, Government was the primary organiser of trips to Mecca by thousands of Ghanaian Muslims every year. That role has been handed over to the National Hajj Council, which was essentially appointed by Government.
The Council, which consists mainly of members of the Coalition of Muslim Organisations and the Federation of Muslim Women Organisations, has proven itself too incompetent in Hajj organisation to deserve another chance. The official mouthpiece of Ghanaian Muslims under the 1992 Constitution, the Federation of Muslim Councils, has already called for an independent enquiry into this year's efforts to send Ghanaian Muslims to Mecca, which was completely botched by the Council. According to the FMC, Muslim leadership was never consulted in the creation of the Council.
The administration of this event is too important to be placed in the hands of an organisation which apparently is not representative of the people it serves.
The truth is that Government should never have been involved in its creation, and the best and most efficient way to clean the mess that has been created is for the council to be abolished and for Government to have as little to do with the Hajj as possible.
In other countries with significant Muslim populations, where Mosque and State are truly separate, Muslim groups organise themselves to ensure that all Muslims have fair access to the pilgrimage, which is the fifth of five sacred pillars holding Islam together.
Under such systems, religious groups take ownership for what is most important to them, are free from Government interference, and in turn are accountable for the results.
That does not mean that Government should play no role at all. Government exists to secure freedom, justice, prosperity, and equal access for all citizens. Accordingly, a desk could be created at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the visa process, and even subsidise the pilgrimage for underprivileged Ghanaian Muslims.
Such a desk could provide organisers with improved, expedient access to visas and should save many of the headaches (and much worse) currently suffered by pilgrims. However, Government"s current protocol list, which is used to choose certain Muslims over others for privileged access, should be abolished.
Having such powers over religious affairs exposes Government to the risk of corruption and favouritism, and takes vital freedoms away from religious groups and faithful persons. Politically affiliated Muslims need to be responsible for their own pilgrimage.
Instead the Muslim community’s leaders should be empowered to make all such decisions, provided adequate funding at arm’s length, and in turn be held responsible for representative leadership that listens to and serves its people.
Whatever system developed by the Muslim community would then be responsible for ensuring that first-time pilgrims receive first priority. Reports of pilgrims going to Mecca every year while some Muslims wait at home (or in some cases in airport wings) are tragic.
Government’s role is to empower the Muslim community to prevent recurrences of these events, and then keep its hands off religion.
Editorial 2
With the demise of 2006 has come the advent of another harmattan. From the look of things, we have struck the mother lode this time around.
The intensity of this year’s harmattan brings back memories of 1983 when this country had perhaps the most severe effect of these harmattan winds in recent memory.
These winds, which blow southwards from the Sahara in dry gusts leaving a cloudy pall hanging over the land and reducing visibility considerably, come with a degree of physical discomfort as well as a very incipient danger of brush and wildfires.
Since our meteorological agency has made clear in no uncertain terms that we are in this for the long haul, it is only wise for us to use the lessons of the past for guidance and in so doing prevent any mishaps and tragedies that might occur.
The first point to note is harmattan winds and the accompanying fog drastically reduces visibility especially at dawn and at night. Thus, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency, normal dawn or night time visibility which is 1000 metres has dropped to between 500 and 600 metres.
What this means is that one ought to be extra careful during this period and with a stronger caution to motorists.
Aside from the poor visibility, the dry brittle and very high powered harmattan winds have the wherewithal to turn a harmless controlled fire into a raging inferno that will pale Dante’s into insignificance. Barely a week into the harmattan season and there has been at least four reported cases of uncontrollable fires.
The Statesman advises Ghanaians to apply the safest of procedures in all undertakings to save lives, property and also enjoy the harmattan’s advantages.
