The vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has encouraged the National Muslim Conference (NMC) leadership to work with other faith-based organizations and partner governments to promote inclusive development for the benefit of the nation.
Under the leadership of the National Chief Imam and the Muslim Caucus of Parliament, the National Muslim Conference is an alliance of Muslim sects and interests.
The goal of the NMC is to unite all Muslims in order to make a meaningful contribution to the welfare of the community and to the advancement of the country.
Speaking at the opening of the second edition of the NMC in Accra on Thursday (22 September), Dr Bawumia lauded the NMC for its national development ideals, and also called on leadership of the NMC to help protect the enviable peace and unity between Muslims and Christians by joining hands with their Christian counterparts to strive for a collective national development, as key national stakeholders.
“Having carefully studied the Deed of the Conference, I came to the understanding that the NMC is seeking to galvanise the energies, human and material resources of the Muslim Ummah (community) in Ghana to spur national leaders of the Muslim Community into action for the collective growth of the Ummah and Ghana as a whole,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“The NMC could not have chosen any growth and developmental indicators better than the four thematic pillars and objectives captured under the Deed of the NMC, namely; Education, Health, Finance and Economic Empowerment of the Muslim Ummah in Ghana.
“The thematic areas would not only find space in the development agenda of Government, but are also in conformity with the developmental agenda of the African continent and the United Nations.”
The Vice President noted further that, for government, bridging the development gaps between less privileged communities and others, remains a priority, for the over all growth of the country.
“As a government, we believe that all efforts must be made to get rid of any form of exclusion, regardless of which community is involved, be it Christian, Muslim or any other community, as we are one people with a common destiny.”
“It is the reason our government has pursued an inclusive development agenda, through the creation of development vehicles for respective communities, such as the Coastal Development Authority, Middle Belt Development Authority, Northern Development Authority and the Zongo Development Fund.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that aside such inclusive development policies by government, there is the need for intra-faith dialogues, as well as greater engagements between the nation’s two leading religious grouos (Muslims and Christians) to proffer strategies and plans, in collaboration with government, to mitigate the day-to-today challenges facing the people.
“Ghanaian Muslims have always joined their hands with their Christian counterparts towards nation building. As far back as 1932, Muslims in the Gold Coast were alive to their responsibilities and had formed the Gold Coast Muslim Association, which was established as a welfare and social association.
“There is no doubt that Ghanaian Muslims and Christians are unique and are able to join hands, work together and excel in various fields – from sports to politics.
“The beautiful spectre of a Jummah congregation around Nima Roundabout in Accra extending to the frontage of a Church premises, the sight of a National Imam in a Chapel to exchange pleasantries with Christian leaders and a Christian President teaming up with a Muslim Vice President, in the case of my boss and I, are some of the beautiful examples of what Muslims and Christians can do together at our work places, communities and the nation, once we continue to tolerate each other and show respect to our religious diversity.”
While commending leaders of the NMC for their vision , Dr. Bawumia also urged them to prioritise education and get their community members to take full advantage of government’s expansion of free access to education, because “education is the surest way of empowering people, accelerating development and alleviating poverty.”
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, stressed on the need for strengthening tolerance, peace and unity in the country, and urged the nation to continue to be grateful to God for the grace He has bestowed on the country as a peaceful nation in the midst of conflicts in the sub-region.