Rejection of Bawumia's funeral donation unfortunate, alien to customs - Wa Naa

The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Council, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV has condemned the decision of the family of the late Wa Imam to reject a funeral donation by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

It will be recalled that Dr Bawumia sent a delegation to the family of the late Imam to express his condolences in accordance with Islamic custom, and during the visit, the delegation made a donation to the family on behalf of the Vice President.

Eventhough the family welcomed the delegation and also accepted the donation, a press release by the family a few days after said they had decided to return the donation because the Vice President did not attend the funeral - an allegation a spokesperson to the Vice President has described as unfortunate, because neither the President nor the Vice President was informed of the death and the funeral of the Imam, adding that nonetheless, the Vice President acted in good faith amd in accordance with Islamic custom by reaching out to the family.

Now the Overlord of the Wa Traditional Area has waded into the controversy, condemning the rejection and also apologising to Dr Bawumia on behalf of the family and the people of Wa.

In an apology letter signed by the Wa Na, the Chief of the Muslim Community in Wa, Yeri Naa Alhaji Sualihu Mumuni Sungumo and the Upper West Regional Imam, Imam Alhaji Osman Mahama Kanihi said the family’s decision to reject the donation is alien to the tradition and customs of the Wala people.

Below is the full letter unedited:

RE: WA IMAM'S FAMILY REJECT DR. BAWUMIA'S FUNERAL DONATION: AN APOLOGY

Our attention has been drawn to a press release issued by the family of the late Imam of Wa Central Mosque, Dr. Suleman Mahama Haroon Bakuri on 11th September 2020 captioned as above.

We wish to state that the ground on which the family under reference took the decision to reject your generous and well intended donation to the said family is alien to the customs and tradition of the Wala people and therefore, most unfortunate. The least we should have been doing as a people was to thank you for the so much for your recent visits to the Wala Traditiinal Area in particular and Upper West Region in general.

Your Excellency, we the traditional authorities would want to, on behalf of all the people in Wa, and the Muslim Ummah render an unqualified apology for the unfortunate incident.

Signed by:

Wa Na Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, Paramount Chief of Wala Traditional Area

Yeri Naa Alhaji Sualihu Mumuni Sungumo, Chief of the Muslim Community in Wa.

Imam Alhaji Osman Mahama Kanihi, Upper West Regional Imam.