A 25-year-old man from Ghana is feared to have left his country
to join the Islamic State (IS) group, his father says. It is the first reported
case of a Ghanaian joining IS.
to join the Islamic State (IS) group, his father says. It is the first reported
case of a Ghanaian joining IS.
Abdul Latif Alema told the BBC that his son’s disappearance
was “like someone in the family has died”. Mohammad Nazir Nortei
Alema sent him a text message on 16 August to say that he was joining the group
fighting in Syria and Iraq, he added.
was “like someone in the family has died”. Mohammad Nazir Nortei
Alema sent him a text message on 16 August to say that he was joining the group
fighting in Syria and Iraq, he added.
He has not been seen since then, Mr Alema said.
BBC’s Sammy Darko who reports from the capital, Accra, said
he saw the message sent using the instant messaging app WhatsApp.
he saw the message sent using the instant messaging app WhatsApp.
It says: “O my Father, O my Mother, do not be worried
about the decision of your son…”
about the decision of your son…”
Mr Alema said his son had earlier indicated that he wanted
to live under Islamic rule.
to live under Islamic rule.
“Nobody’s happy and as for his mum she keeps on crying
and fasting and praying that her son returns,” he told the BBC.
and fasting and praying that her son returns,” he told the BBC.
The government has not yet said a word on the apparent
defection.
defection.
Ghana has a minority Muslim population and has not been
affected by insurgency involving militant Islamists.
affected by insurgency involving militant Islamists.
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