In a powerful show of unity, the three men at the centre of the recent religious controversy have publicly reconciled following an interfaith engagement convened by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno.

The three are Imam Masud Abdullah, Apostle Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, also known as Apostle Daniel JY Adjei, and Alhaji Sibamay Zakaria, popularly known as Alhaji Papa Angola.

The engagement brought together Christian and Muslim religious leaders at the Emergency Command Centre of the Police Headquarters in Cantonments, Accra, on Friday, August 14.

It followed a series of incidents that heightened tensions between sections of the Christian and Muslim communities.

Imam Masud Abdullah, a 35-year-old Imam, was arrested over a video in which he called for people who insult Prophet Mohammed to be killed or beheaded.

Apostle Daniel JY Adjei was subsequently arrested by the Police Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team after he was captured in a video using derogatory language against Prophet Mohammed.

The situation escalated further after a video emerged showing Sibamay Zakaria (Papa Angola) verbally abusing and physically assaulting Apostle Daniel while he was handcuffed and in police custody.

At Friday's engagement, religious leaders called for restraint, patience, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

IGP Yohuno said the police had acted proactively but stressed that law enforcement alone could not heal the tensions.

“Violence will not fix what words have broken,” he said.

He firmly warned against religious extremism.

“And vigilante retribution will never replace the rule of law in Ghana,” he said.

The IGP said the three suspects were on bail while investigations continued.

He also appealed directly to the moral authority of religious leaders to help restore calm.

“Today, I appeal directly to your moral authority to join me in calling for absolute calm and immediate return to peaceful coexistence.”

The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam also called for restraint and patience, thanking the police for the swift manner in which they managed the situation.

He said the issue would form part of his preaching and prayers, and urged other imams to be guided by the same message.

Bishop Dr Agyei Lawson, who also attended the meeting, called on religious leaders to reject intolerance, hate speech, provocations and violence and instead promote dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

“Our diversity should unite us and not divide us,” he asserted.

He encouraged preachers to take the message of peace to their congregations and thanked the IGP for convening the engagement.

At the end of the programme, Imam Masud Abdullah, Apostle Daniel JY Adjei, and Alhaji Sibamay Zakaria stood before the audience, shook hands and embraced one another as a public sign of reconciliation and peace.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations under President John Dramani Mahama, also joined the three men in a group hug in a show of solidarity.

The reconciliation came after the police-hosted meeting featured appeals from religious leaders and the IGP for calm, restraint and a return to Ghana's tradition of peaceful Christian-Muslim coexistence.