Monrovia– Former President George Manneh Weah has extended heartfelt condolences to Liberia’s Muslim community following the death of Grand Mufti Sheikh Dr. Abass Kanneh, describing the revered Islamic scholar as a patriot, educator, and champion of peace whose legacy will endure for generations.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
Sheikh Kanneh died on Wednesday, July 29, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was widely respected for his decades of service to Islam and interfaith dialogue in Liberia and across the region.
In a statement issued Tuesday by his office, Ex-President Weah expressed sympathy to the Kanneh family, the National Muslim Council of Liberia, the wider Muslim community, the interfaith community, and all Liberians mourning the loss.
“The Muslim Community and I have also come a long way,” Weah said. “I attended Muslim Congress, I was at some point a Muslim, and converted back to being a Christian up to present. They are also my people. Just like the Christian Community, when they are bereaved, I am bereaved; when they have a loss, it is my loss.”
The former president, who is currently out of the country, said he intends to visit the bereaved family and the National Muslim Council upon his return to Liberia to personally convey his condolences.
Weah paid tribute to Sheikh Kanneh’s lifelong commitment to religious service and scholarship, describing him as an expert in Islamic theology, comparative theology, and Islamic jurisprudence, as well as a respected advocate for peace, social justice, and national unity.
He said the late Grand Mufti would be remembered for his teachings, academic contributions, selfless service, and unwavering dedication to Liberia’s Muslim community and the broader interfaith movement.
Sheikh Kanneh was one of Liberia’s most distinguished Islamic scholars. He served as Director of the Muslim World League Office in Sierra Leone and President of Magboroka Islamic University College. He earned a doctorate in Islamic Theology from Ummul-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and devoted much of his life to advancing Islamic education and promoting religious harmony.
Weah concluded by praying that the Kanneh family, the National Muslim Council, Muslims in Liberia and around the world, and all Liberians find strength and comfort during this period of mourning.
The death of Sheikh Kanneh has prompted an outpouring of tributes from religious leaders, government officials, and members of the public, many remembering him as a bridge-builder whose influence extended beyond the Muslim community through his advocacy for peace, tolerance, and national cohesion.
