Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ghana asks mosques to turn down the noise and use WhatsApp for call to prayer
DW ^ | 14.04.2018 | Isaac Kaledzi

Posted on 04/16/2018 10:56:10 AM PDT by Gamecock

Urban Africans contend with a great deal of noise day in and out. In a bid to curb noise pollution, authorities in Ghana want Muslims to use WhatsApp rather than loudspeakers for the call to prayer

Chaotic traffic, speakers blasting music, street vendors and thousands of people going about their business are typical on the streets of most of Africa's big cities.

But in Ghana, mosques and churches are seen to be compounding the problem of excessive noise.

In the capital Accra, authorities are seeking to deal with the racket caused by these places of worship — and mosques in particular.

Mosques are being asked to use mobile text or WhatsApp messages to call the Muslim community to prayer.

Reducing 'noise pollution'

"Why is it that time for prayer cannot be transmitted with text message or WhatsApp? So the imam would send WhatsApp messages to everybody," said environment minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

"I think that will help to reduce the noise. This may be controversial but it's something that we can think about," he told DW.

The government says it is hopeful such a change could contribute to a reduction in excessive noise.

Muslims reject WhatsApp idea

For many Muslims living in the capital, the idea of a mobile call to prayer is more difficult to embrace.

Fadama community mosque imam, Sheik Usan Ahmed, calls Muslims to prayer five times at prescribed times throughout the day. Although he agrees that the level of noise could be reduced, relying on text and WhatsApp messages could also have economic implications, he told DW. "The imam is not paid monthly. Where would he get the money to be doing that? We try to practice what is possible. So the text message or any other message is not a problem. But I don't think it is necessary," Ahmed said.

Other Muslim residents who spoke to DW also rejected the suggestion. "I don't find anything wrong with Muslims waking up at dawn and using the megaphone to call their people to come worship their god, because we have Christian churches who use megaphones as well, and they also preach at dawn," said Nora Nsiah.

Another Accra resident, Kevin Pratt, also dismissed Frimpong-Boateng's suggestion: "Not everyone is on social media, and not everyone is as literate as he is." The Muslim call to prayer is traditionally supposed to reach as far as possible, Habiba Ali added.

The government has signaled it ultimately intends to enforce laws in order to quiet things down in Ghana.


TOPICS: Local News; Religion
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 04/16/2018 10:56:10 AM PDT by Gamecock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

I guess they are trying to climb out of a Shiite Hole.


2 posted on 04/16/2018 10:56:23 AM PDT by Gamecock (In church today, we so often find we meet only the same old world, not Christ and His Kingdom. AS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

A very reasonable request.
Expect the Muslims to promptly go ApeSh*t, unless they are presently outnumbered.


3 posted on 04/16/2018 10:58:17 AM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

HEADS WILL ROLL!

(At least that’s my guess).


4 posted on 04/16/2018 11:00:47 AM PDT by Mr. Dough (Who was the greater military man, General Tso or Col. Sanders?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lee martell

Ghana is 17.6% Muslim, which is over the threshold where they start behaving badly.


5 posted on 04/16/2018 11:03:54 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big governent is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock
It will never work. The whole purpose of "call to prayer" is to annoy others.

Iman Obama:

Muslim Call to Prayer One of the Prettiest Sounds on Earth.
No, the prettiest sound on earth would be President Trump annoucing that we've just nuked Mecca.
 
6 posted on 04/16/2018 11:05:42 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (MAGA in the mornin', MAGA in the evenin', MAGA at suppertime . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

That’s Ghana make the Shiite hit the fan.

But it’s a good move.


7 posted on 04/16/2018 11:05:45 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Yes, and stop using real knives to slit throats. Just download the Play Muzzie App.


8 posted on 04/16/2018 11:06:00 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Leftism is an elaborate system for hiding shame behind a cheap mash of virtue. -Klavan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

No wonder all those beautiful white models living in Ghana want to marry me as soon as possible.


9 posted on 04/16/2018 11:07:08 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Good for Ghana.

In Europe, the left-wing elites fiercely defend the Muslims’ “right” to caterwaul and ululate from loudspeakers.


10 posted on 04/16/2018 11:13:38 AM PDT by Dagnabitt (Point at the Q-Tards and Laugh!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

TURN DOWN FOR WHAT?!?!?!


11 posted on 04/16/2018 11:15:47 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Didn’t Zuckerborg mention that F*c*book had purchased WhatsApp?


12 posted on 04/16/2018 11:17:36 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (CNN has covered nothing this week except Stormy Daniels and Trump's poll numbers rose 7 points.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock
🕌🕋. Allan (?) will not be pleased. Be on the look out for chants of Allan Ackbar. At acceptable Db levels of course.
13 posted on 04/16/2018 11:21:04 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Why has not some expert on brainwashing exposed the reality of this demon spawn religion?


14 posted on 04/16/2018 11:22:45 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Dearborn, Michigan, take note.


15 posted on 04/16/2018 11:24:52 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

And why do they have to gather on the street ?

Why not just stay where they are?

(rhetorical, I know the answer- they need to show off their asses in the air)


16 posted on 04/16/2018 11:46:57 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Frequented a local pub with a great back deck this weekend.

The firehouse next door got a call and sounded their deafening siren for about a minute.

My first thought was “does the siren really add anything anymore?”

My buddy is a fire police volunteer, and gets an email, a text, and a radio notification for each call.


17 posted on 04/16/2018 11:54:24 AM PDT by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson