The Office of the National Chief Imam has expressed concern at media reports suggesting that the revered Islamic cleric supports the consumption of alcoholic beverages to fight the deadly coronavirus.

“We would like to state without any equivocation that the National Chief Imam never made such statement,” Spokesman for the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, indicated in a release

The release explained: “In an attempt to educate the public about the flexible features of the Islamic law it was indicated that under certain circumstances what prohibited may become permissible. That was to justify within the law the suspension of the daily jama'a salat and the Friday Jumua salat.”

According to the statement, this illustration has mischievously been taken out of context by some media houses who it noted, are “misinforming the public and subjecting the National Chief Imam to public opprobrium.”

It called on the general public, and Muslims in particular, to disregard that report with all the contempt it deserves.

In a related development, the Ghana Police Mosque has announced the suspension of the Friday congregational prayers following the ban on the public gathering by President Akufo-Addo.

Management of the Mosque has, however, advised congregants to rather pray Zuhr - the fourth of the five daily obligatory prayers (salah) for practising Muslims - at their various homes.

See the statement below: