- President John Mahama pledged to fulfill campaign promises, focusing on improving conditions for the Muslim community and reducing Hajj costs
- He announced plans for a second public holiday for Eid-el-Fitr and initiatives to enhance educational opportunities for Muslim students
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to fulfil the promises made during his campaign, emphasizing his dedication to supporting the Muslim community.
During a National Prayer and Thanksgiving service at the Ghana National Mosque, Mahama outlined key initiatives to improve conditions for Muslims nationwide.
“I am working to honour the promises made to the Muslim community,” Mahama declared, receiving applause from the audience.
One major commitment he highlighted was the reduction of Hajj pilgrimage fares. He announced the formation of a five-member Hajj task force, led by Ghana’s longest-serving Member of Parliament, Honourable Collins Stablar.
According to the president, the task force will travel to the Holy Land on Monday to participate in a Hajj conference and negotiate ways to reduce pilgrimage costs.
“Their mission is to make arrangements to lower Hajj fares, allowing more Muslims to afford the pilgrimage,” Mahama explained.
He also revealed plans to introduce a second public holiday for Eid-el-Fitr, extending the celebration of the Ramadan conclusion. “Once Parliament resumes, we will amend the Holidays Act to include an additional day for Eid-el-Fitr,” he announced.
Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to religious freedom, emphasizing every Ghanaian’s constitutional right to practice their faith freely.
To improve educational opportunities for Muslim students, the president pledged to increase the number of Muslim professionals in fields such as medicine, law, and technology.
He promised to recruit more Arabic teachers to meet the growing needs of Islamic schools.
To economically empower Muslim communities, Mahama outlined the creation of the Soyayya Fund, a microcredit initiative to support families in deprived areas.
The fund will provide financial assistance for starting small businesses and improving livelihoods.
Additionally, Mahama disclosed ongoing discussions with the Bank of Ghana to introduce Islamic banking instruments into the national financial system, further supporting economic growth and inclusion.
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