Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Gambian President Adama Barrow has issued a stern warning to activist imams, urging them to refrain from delivering sermons that could incite division within the country. Speaking at State House on Sunday during an Eid meeting with Muslim leaders, Barrow emphasized the importance of national unity and underscored the crucial role of religious leaders in maintaining peace.

“Like my minister Hamat Bah has said, I urge Gambians to unite for the country’s peace because development is impossible without peace. This must begin in our homes, meaning we should educate our children to be obedient and law-abiding citizens,” President Barrow stated.

He noted that with Muslims comprising approximately 96% of The Gambia’s population, imams wield significant influence and, therefore, bear a great responsibility in fostering peace. Drawing comparisons with other nations, Barrow revealed that some governments regulate Friday sermons, handing pre-written sermons to imams, who are not allowed to alter a single phrase.

“But in The Gambia, we allow every imam to preach as he wishes. However, some mosques are notorious for the divisive sermons delivered there, and we need to be careful about that,” Barrow cautioned.

The president criticized certain religious leaders for using their platforms to speculate on government policies without adequate knowledge. He stressed that not all truths should be openly discussed in the public domain, as some only serve to incite unrest.

“Some truths only light fire. A lot of sermons in certain mosques are about the government, its policies, and its services, yet the imams commenting on these matters neither understand nor have accurate information about them. All they do is speculate based on hearsay,” he remarked.

Barrow dismissed claims by some religious leaders that they possess superior knowledge about governance, arguing that leadership is best understood from within the system.

“No matter how intelligent these preachers think they are, they cannot know better than those within the government system. Some individuals beat their chests, claiming expertise, but once given a seat inside, they get lost. Government is not about classroom learning; it is about acting from within. There is no school where people learn to be a president,” he asserted.

The president reaffirmed his administration’s open-door policy for religious leaders to voice their concerns through appropriate channels. He encouraged imams to engage directly with him or Minister Hamat Bah rather than resorting to public outcries or social media campaigns.

“Since my doors are open, why take grievances to the public or make noise on social media? I have personally summoned some outspoken imams for face-to-face discussions because they spoke on matters they knew nothing about, despite being reputable Islamic scholars. After our discussions, they admitted they had spoken out of ignorance,” Barrow revealed.

He further criticized certain imams for making uninformed sermons about global events without understanding their broader context. He highlighted the risks he took in challenging former President Yahya Jammeh, expressing disappointment over those who now refuse to work with him.

“Some people forget very quickly and claim that they won’t work for me. This is pure ignorance because no one works for me. They serve The Gambia and Gambians,” he declared.

Barrow concluded by urging all citizens to serve the country with sincerity, warning that those who prioritize personal gain over national interest often face difficulties after leaving public service.

“Some people struggle after leaving public office because they never worked for The Gambia and its people; they only worked for themselves, and that is a curse,” he said.

He called on all Gambians to work towards national development, assuring that if everyone contributes sincerely, the country will achieve remarkable progress in the coming years.