The Dhaka Times Desk What is modernity and will eventually rely on religion? Now the option of Azan has been taken out. It is recommended to send SMS instead of Azan!
Such a novel proposal has been made in the mosques of Accra, the capital of Ghana. It is asked to call the worshipers for prayer by SMS or WhatsApp message on the mobile phone instead of calling the call to prayer! However, the local Muslims immediately rejected this plan. The government has said that this plan can be taken to reduce noise pollution.
Ghana's Environment Minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng said on Sunday, 'Why can't the prayer schedule be communicated via text or WhatsApp? Imam Sahib can send messages to everyone on WhatsApp. I think this will reduce noise pollution. It may seem like a controversial decision, but we can think about it.' However, the local Muslim community rejected this proposal of the government.
A Christian said, "I don't think it's a problem to call Muslims to prayer using a megaphone in the morning." The reason is that megaphones are also used in Christian churches.
However, another resident of the area, Kevin Pratt, rejected the environment minister's statement. He said, not everyone is connected with social media. Moreover, not everyone is as educated as the minister, who will be so proficient in mobile phones.
The Ghanaian government has also hinted that the issue may be brought under the law in the future. Apart from mosques, the country also plans to reduce noise pollution from other religious places of worship.
About 20 percent of the population of Ghana, a predominantly Christian country, is Muslim. Previously, the Rwandan government had banned the use of loudspeakers in mosques in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Muslims make up 5 percent of the total population in Rwanda.
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