In celebration of the centenary of Ahmadiyya in Ghana, let me throw light on the life of the most popular presidents that the movement has produced up to date.
He is Mr. J.G Issah, who was also an employee of the Cocoa Marketing Board (C.M.B).
His father’s name is Issah Gibreel (Wala) and mother’s name Maariya Afagbenyoh (Ewe). He had three wives and and 15 children. He was educated at the Roman Catholic Mission School at Denu in the Volta Region and then at the Ahmadiyya Middle School at Saltpond in the Central Region. He started schooling rather late at 11 years. He made rapid progress due to his advanced age and intelligence compared to his classmates. His teachers subsequently jumped him from one class to another, thus cutting short the number of years spent by pupils in class in those days. In 1950 he obtained his Middle School leaving certificate. After serving as a pupil teacher for about eight months he was employed in 1951 at Cadbury and Fry Ltd.
Cadbury and Fry Ltd. was one of the private companies responsible for the buying and exporting of cocoa through the Cocoa Marketing Board in the Gold Coast.
In 1961 Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s Government decided that all foreign companies should leave the purchasing and exporting of cocoa into the hands of the C.M.B.
For this reason all Ghanaian officials including Mr. J.G. Issah working in all such foreign companies and agencies, were absorbed into the United Ghana Farmer’s Marketing Co-operative Council (UGFMCC). At that time Mr Issah was a District Marketing Officer stationed at Jasikan in the Volta Region in 1961. In 1962 he was transferred to Tamale in the North as a Regional Marketing Officer in charge of the Upper and Northern regions. He was also one of the officers made responsible for the marketing of shea-nut, rice and groundnut.
After the overthrow of Nkrumah’s Government in 1966 the UGFMCC was absorbed into the C.M.B. Continuing in his capacity as the Regional Marketing Officer, Mr Issah was transferred to Accra and another officer appointed in his stead for the Upper and Northern Regions.
He was later recalled once more to the North to be stationed at Bolgatanga this time. He was then sent to Tamale as a regional CMB official. In 1968 he was transferred back to Accra. In 1969 he was also transferred to Takoradi as the CMB officer responsible for the export of cocoa at the port.
In 1972 he came back to Accra where he was promoted to the office of inspector of stocks responsible for the checking of cocoa stocks at any station in the country where cocoa purchase was made. In 1976-1977 he became Chief Inspector of Cocoa. In 1979 he was appointed as the Director of Operations of the CMB. In 1985 he retired from active service and led a private life till his death.
As the President of the Ahmadiyyat Muslim Mission he had the privilege of travelling to Rabwah in Pakistan in 1976. Inspired by what he saw there he made a number of changes on his return home, including the printing of cash analysis books for the recording of all received monies and their accountability. He then requested for a qualified accountant.
The Jamaat at Wa recommended Mr Muhammad Bin Qasim then stationed at Tumu to be brought down to Accra immediately.
Issah’s popularity stemmed from the fact that during elections you could see almost 99 per cent of all hands raised for him. In 1978, his term as President came to an end. In place of the Head Court Electoral System was replaced the Electoral College System in which delegates made the choice of Presidents. But most importantly Mr J.G. Issah was very caring as President of the Movement to account for his popularity.
He would always listen and find solutions to problems confronting anyone who sought his help.
On the first of August, 1998 Mr. J.G Issah passed away after a short illness. The body was released for burial from the mortuary on the seventh of August, 1998. The burial occurred at the Ekrawfo Ahmadi Muslim Cemetery. Between 700- 800 people attended the funeral. By 1:00 pm on Friday all Ahmadis, including sympathizers, had arrived at the school park, awaiting the arrival of the body. Amir Abdul Wahab had then gone to London to attend the 1998 World-Wide gathering of Ahmadis, popularly called Jalsa. So Maulvi Muahmmad Bin Salih deputised for him as the Amir. The Friday prayers (Jum’a prayers) was led by Maulvi Yusif Yawson, the current Assistant Amir (Naib) at 3:15pm. Maulvi Salih, the deputy Amir, and Mr Issifu Ali later arrived with the body from the mortuary. After the Naib Amir (Muhammad Bin Salih) had offered his Juma prayers he led us in the late afternoon prayers (Asar). After that prayers for the dead (Janaza prayers) were offered led by the Naib Amir. Before final burial a procession was formed to enable everybody catch the last glimpse of his or her President. It was laid in a casket on top of a bench. The face was very bright. I was among those who carried the casket to the cemetery. At one point when I got tired a Khudaam (Youth) took over from me. Among those present were: Maulvi Muhammad Bin Salih, Maulvi Yawson, Mr Issifu Ali (NDC Chairman), Mr Iddrisu Mahama, Minister of Defense of the NDC Government; Alhaji Issaka, a retired income tax officer, Ahmad Owusu of Ako Balm Enterprise, Khalid Ahmad of Atomic Energy, Yusif Edusei of Madam Catherine, Mallam Ibrahim Bonsu of Auntie Mercy Cream, Mr Abdullah Nasir Boateng, Headmaster T.I Ahmadiyya Sec. School, Kumasi; Mr J.G. Issah’s family etc.
May Allah shower His forgiveness and Mercy on him in the Hereafter and reward him with the highest station in heaven (Al- Jannat Firdaus). May Allah continue to pour down steadfastness on his wives and children. May Allah also forgive and shower His Mercy on all those of us still alive. Allahuma Amin.
CONCLUSION
Mr. J.G. Issah always insisted on right things being done. He was father to all and very caring.
Mr. J.G Issah …One time the president of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Ghana (Deceased in 1998)
BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD
