Monrovia, Liberia – The National Muslim Council of Liberia’s 2023 general assembly has come to a close in Monrovia with the election of a new corps of officers to run the group’s operations for the ensuing four years. Fumba Sheriff, Chairman, Mohamed Konneh, Vice Chairman for Administration, and Abdurahman Sow, Vice Chairman for Operations, were chosen as the winners of the weekend poll.
Others include Dr. Abbas Kanneh, who has taken over as Liberia’s Grand Motif in place of Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo, Amna Sheriff, Vice Person for Women Affairs, and Kuku Reeves, Secretary General. Speaking in an interview after the results were made public, the National Muslim Council of Liberia’s newly elected Chairman, Fumba Sheriff, praised the council’s election committee for holding the organization’s first inclusive election. He urged Muslims in Liberia to exercise their civil duty by signing up for the National Elections Commission’s ongoing biometric voter registration process.
Muslims in Liberia have been encouraged to vote for candidates who will represent their interests in the national legislature in order to awaken from their state of somnambulism. Attorney Varflay Kamara, a former Lofa County representative, gave the keynote address and advised Muslims to use their ballots to get whatever they want done lawfully.
According to Attorney Kamara, Muslims in Liberia are among the highest domestic tax payers and contributors as a share of government revenue; as a result, they ought to be permitted to actively engage in national issues that will determine the future course of this nation. Attorney Kamara urged Muslims to register so they can cast ballots for those who will represent their interests in the nation.
Sheik Abdulai Massarey, the outgoing chairman of the National Muslim Council of Liberia, listed some of his accomplishments, including uniting the Muslim community, rewriting a new constitution, providing vehicles, and providing operations for the council’s headquarters.
Considering his leadership over the previous three years, he continued, “I am very happy that I have achieved the mandate and that my administration has achieved them 90%.” Sheik Massarey thanked the attendees for attending the council’s general meeting in 2023 as a sign of their fidelity to their religion.
In a related development, delegates to the National Muslim Council of Liberia’s 2023 general assembly approved an eleven-point resolution that will serve as the organization’s foundation for the following four years of governance. The delegates decided, among other things, to build a $1.05 million boarding mission school exclusively for females before the end of the following year.
The national hajii committee of the council was given the power and permission to oversee Muslim pilgrimages to and from Mecca in Liberia, according to the decision. The delegates approved a suggested budget of $4,700,000 US as the necessary operating and management budget for the council for this year.
According to all signs, the National Muslim Council of Liberia’s 2023 general assembly’s decision to nominate a new grand motif did not go over well with the country’s outgoing grand motif.
Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo claims that the Supreme Council of Afatwa still recognizes him as the Grand Motif of Liberia. The National Muslim Council of Liberia held elections over the weekend, and Dr. Abbas Kanneh was chosen by a group of Islamic experts to succeed Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo as the Grand Motif of Liberia.
A group of Islamic scholars known as the Supreme Council of Afatwa is in charge of rallying former adherents of the religion in order to render an objective judgment on Islam in Liberia.
While acknowledging the National Muslim Council of Liberia’s right to choose their Grand Motif, Sheik Sumaworo stated during a news conference in Monrovia on Sunday that he is still the Grand Motif of Liberia as chosen by the Supreme Council of Afatwa in Liberia. He claims that he will continue to be available to answer inquiries from the general public, the government, and international partners, particularly regarding the upkeep of peace and security in Liberia, and to render a legal ruling on a matter relating to Islamic teachings and philosophy.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
