Nandom, Upper West Region — Ghana
The Nandom Traditional Council has ordered the immediate closure of the Nandom Central Mosque following renewed tensions stemming from a long-standing leadership dispute. The directive was announced on Thursday at an emergency public briefing delivered by the Divisional Chief of Ko on behalf of the Paramount Chief, Naa Prof. Edmund N. D. Chiir VIII.
Armed officers from the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) escorted traditional authorities to the mosque to lock the premises, warning that “any group or individual who attempts to forcibly reopen the mosque will be arrested and detained until further notice.”
The closure follows weeks of rising friction between two major factions within the Muslim community—the Mossi group and a coalition of minority settler groups including the Kanjaga, Dagomba, Fulbe, Waala, and Sisaala communities.
DISPUTE OVER IMAMSHIP REIGNITES
The Divisional Chief explained that the chieftaincy-style dispute over the mosque’s leadership dates back to 2012, after the death of the then Nandom Imam. Two contenders, one aligned with the Mossi community and another backed by the Kanjaga, both laid claim to the position, setting off years of rivalry and intermittent clashes. To restore calm, the Council previously appointed a neutral cleric from Wa to lead Friday prayers, an arrangement that stabilized the situation from 2012 until late 2024. That temporary peace, however, has now collapsed.
Sources within the Muslim community say the Wa-based neutral Imam abruptly stopped attending prayers in recent months. His absence allowed the Mossi faction to reclaim control of the mosque with security support, a move the Kanjaga and allied groups viewed as an attempted takeover. The development triggered rapid mobilization on both sides, pushing the situation to the brink of violent confrontation. This imminent threat, observers say, compelled the Traditional Council to intervene to “safeguard the peace and unity of Nandom.”
COUNCIL APPEALS FOR CALM; SECURITY MAINTAINS LOCKDOWN
The Traditional Council has urged all factions to remain calm and respect the closure as consultations continue. Security personnel remain deployed around the facility to prevent clashes.The Council stressed that the decision is temporary and aimed at creating space for mediation.“If the factions return tomorrow to say they have resolved their differences amicably, we will not hesitate to reopen the mosque,” elders assured.Residents remain hopeful that the latest intervention will finally lead to a lasting solution to a dispute that has divided Nandom’s Muslim community for more than a decade.
Source: Julius St. Baayel(Nandom FM)