The National Muslim Conference of Ghana, under the leadership of National Chief Imam Sheikh Dr. Nuhu Sharubutu, recently presented a comprehensive 14-point ‘Muslim Manifesto’ to the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During a meeting attended by John Dramani Mahama, the NDC leader and flag bearer, along with national executives of the party and some members of parliament, the National Muslim Conference outlined key proposals from their manifesto. These included requests for the establishment of STEM and TVET schools in all Zongo communities across the country’s sixteen administrative regions.
Other proposals included amending the inter-state succession bill to allow Muslims to determine their inheritance based on Islamic ordinances, building modern abattoirs meeting World Health Organisation standards in all regions, and establishing a permanent pilgrimage board to facilitate the annual trip to Mecca.
Alhaji Inusah, the General Secretary of the Conference, emphasized that the Muslim community felt marginalized in terms of equal opportunities and viewed the presentation of their manifesto to all political parties as a proactive measure to prevent neglect by political actors.
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In response, Mahama acknowledged that several points in the Muslim Manifesto aligned with the NDC’s 2020 People’s Manifesto. However, he pledged to consider additional critical issues and recommendations from the Chief Imam’s proposal to ensure the Muslim community receives its due share.
Mahama also announced plans to decentralize the implementation of the STEM program into secondary education across all schools, rather than retaining it as a stand-alone campus. Additionally, he committed to establishing a National Pilgrimage Authority to oversee all pilgrim activities in Ghana if elected in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the NDC, Mahama thanked the National Chief Imam and his delegation for their visit and proposals. He assured them of the party’s commitment to address their requests and appreciated their proactive approach, which facilitated smoother engagement with the National Democratic Congress.
