The Nation and the World paid the last respect to Sheikh Salis Shaban at the forecourt of the State led by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
We recount a special spiritual role of Sheikh Salis Shaban to Ghana that’s needs to be archived amongs the exceptional roles of religious leaders in nation building.
These behind the scene stories and efforts are normally untold but plays key importance in shaping our progress as a nation.
Sheikh Salis Shaban رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was the interpreter, the translator and the intermediary between His Excellency Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and HIS Spiritual Eminence Sheik Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ when Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was invited in the 1960’s to help spiritually to facilitate in the formation of organization of African Unity and also to deliver special prayers at the construction site of Akosombo dam, generate and supply electricity to Ghana and neighboring west African to enable the construction company to be able start construction process of dam because there was the need to eradicate spiritual problems and afflictions that was hindering the Kaiser Construction Company to begin the work on the dam. It was until the supplication conducted by fadeelatush Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ intermediated by Sheikh Mohammed Salis Shaban رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ that Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ gave the instruction to Dr Kwame Nkrumah to ask the company resume the work at the site. The work was immediately resumed without any obstacles nor even pre-conceived lost of lives.
“After independence, Nkrumah’s greatest desire was to unite Africa, but he was faced with serious problems and ideological setbacks in convincing various African heads of state especially along the two major post-independence geopolitical divides in Africa, Monrovia Group, and Cassablanca Group. Nkrumah told me to inform Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ about this Challenge, and then Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ asked me to inform him to write down the names of all the heads of State he wanted them to support his vision of unity. Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ said to him, this mission is a shared mission and objective and I will support you spiritually” Sheikh Salis Shaban رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ
With regards to Akosombo Dam, when Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ visited, Dr Nkrumah briefed him about the strange challenges bedeviling the project and halting the progress. Sheikh Ibrahim Niass رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ together with Sheikh Salis Shaban رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and government delegation visited the site, however only the two of them descended close to the river meant for the dam. He then offered all the needed supplication with the assistance of his servant, Sheikh Salis Shaban رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
Afterwards, Sheikh Ibrahim Niass asked Sheikh Salis Shaban to inform Nkrumah that, the area was inhabited by ‘Jins’ but he has driven them away and the work should resume and the Project will go on successfully. Significantly, In 1963, both Akosombo Dam, the first hydrolectrical dam in Africa and Organization of African Unity come into existence
Written by :Abdulsalam Mohammed Daaru
Author of the Book Second of the Two in honour of Sheikh Salis Shaban