The Islamic scholar whose presence in Ghana has raised some security concerns has condemned acts of terrorist groups like the so-called Islamic State.

Dr Abu Phillips runs the Islamic Online University and is in the country to deliver a series of lectures at the invitation of a Ghanaian Islamic group.

Speaking to journalists in the northern regional capital Tamale, Dr Phillips denounced acts carried out by the so-called Islamic State and Boko Haram.

“We have so many examples in the time of the prophet where he forbade the killing of women and children and they have gone into schools to massacre children and women.

“ISIS has gone on television and cut the necks of people who have converted to Islam and people who have come as aid workers helping the needy of Syria.”

He said their acts can never be attributed to the teachings of the Quran and described the terrorists as “deviated, misguided, disillusioned Muslims", who needed to be stopped.

“We can stop them by educating young people on what Islam really is,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Phillips credibility had been questioned. He has been accused of holding extremist views and having terrorist links.

He is also said to have been deported from countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Kenya.

He is reported to have written: “Western culture, led by the United States, is the enemy of Islam.”

The US Government, according to the Sun Herald Newspaper in the UK, named him as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 bombing that killed six people and injured 1,000. 

Dr. Bilal Philips has repeatedly denied connections to terrorists insisting the West, led by America, is only demonizing him.

A letter he wrote while in detention in the Philippines – where he was deported from on similar accusations – accused Western media of sensational journalism bent on portraying him as evil.