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Address By President Akufo-Addo As He Celebrates 2024 Eid Ul-Fitr

Address By The President Of The Republic,Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, At The Eid Ul-Fitr Celebration, On Thursday, 11th April 2024, At Black Star Square, Accra

Vice President, Second Lady, Greater Accra Regional Minister-designate, National Chief Imam, Ulama, Members of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Jama, Fellow Ghanaians,

I salute you with the greetings of Islam, Salam Alaikum!

I must, at the outset, give thanks to the Almighty Allah for guiding the Muslim Ummah not only in Ghana, but also throughout the world, to observe the third pillar of Islam, fasting in the month of Ramadan, and to have ended it successfully. I continue to thank Almighty God for the life of our National Chief Imam and all the leaders of the Muslim Ummah in Ghana. Together with the National Chief Imam, the Ulama have provided me and my Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, with the needed counsel that has enabled us run the affairs of this country peacefully for the past seven years and more. We are very grateful.

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This is the last Eid ul-Fitr celebration that I shall attend as President of the Republic, having served, by the grace of the Almighty and through the generosity of the Ghanaian people, the constitutionally mandated period of two (2) terms of four (4) years each. It is, thus, important that I identify the core leadership of the Ummah, whose guidance to the flock has helped maintain the peace, stability and tranquility that we continue to enjoy in this country: Shaykh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Shaykh Kamaldeen Abubakar, Imam of the Shia Community, and Al-Hajj Ibrahim Umar, Imam of the Ahl-Sunna Community. I shall always remain indebted to you for your high sense of patriotism and commitment to Ghana, and to the wellbeing of the Muslim faithful. May Allah continue to imbue you with the wisdom to provide leadership and service to our country.

Chief Imam, Ulama, I came to you in the course of the 2016 electioneering campaign with a promise to make the challenges and concerns of Zongo communities an integral part of the governance process under my leadership. Seven years down the line, I can say, with some measure of satisfaction, that the promise has been fulfilled. Today, many Zongo communities around the country bear witness to the impacts that projects undertaken under the Zongo Development Fund are having in the lives of their inhabitants.

From the construction of school infrastructure, to the provision of computer laboratories, to the enhancement of sanitary facilities, to the development of astroturf football pitches, we have uplifted the lives of thousands, if not millions, of people living in Zongo communities. It was my hope that residents of Zongos will own the Fund, and leverage the support of government for attracting external support for the Fund, rather than it becoming a wholly government funded initiative. I am urging you to show a heightened sense of interest in the development of the Fund, so that we can grow it for successive generations of Zongo people.

Fortunately, the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, is the elected flagbearer of my party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), indeed, the first of the Muslim faith to occupy that important position, and is in poll position, by the grace and benediction of Almighty Allah, to take over from me on 7th January 2025, Insha Allah. As a Muslim, I have no doubt that he will continue to work with you to enhance the benefits of the Fund for the development of Zongo communities. I have no doubt that I have been an inclusive President. I plead with you to uphold this principle of inclusivity for the equitable development of our country.

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Chief Imam, Ulama, the importance of Ramadan is not lost on the average Muslim. Ramadan seeks to inculcate, in the Muslim adherent, the spirit of sacrifice, fellow-feeling, commitment to ethical living, love of family and nation and, above all, God-consciousness. I urge you not to abandon these values after the passage of the month of Ramadan. Indeed, the purpose of Ramadan is to instill these values in us and for us to keep them all our lives. These are the exact same values that every nation needs in order to develop. No Muslim has been unable to fast in this month of Ramadan, because they did not have what it takes either to eat the dawn meal or break their fast during iftar, thanks to the time-tested practice of communal sharing of meals at dawn and in the evenings. Let us make this spirit of togetherness a national value. That will give true meaning to the principle of “one nation, one destiny.”

The Qur’an states, “O Mankind, we have created you from a male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another…” (Q:49:13). Let us, therefore, eschew all forms of divisiveness that have the potential of destroying the unity and cohesion of our country. I make this point also, particularly, because we are in an election year. In an election year, there is the tendency for self-seeking people to exploit our differences of religion and ethnicity to foment division, in order to promote a narrow, parochial, sectarian and political agenda. In an age of technology and new media, which also offers people with a wide degree of anonymity, we should be careful about the spread of mis-information and dis-information, especially if such mis-information and dis-information destroy the hard-earned reputation of people. The Qur’an in Chapter 49 verse 6, states, “O you who believe, when an evil person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful of what you have done.”

Muslims, fellow Ghanaians, I call on you to heed the words of Allah and be very careful so you do not destroy people’s reputation on the altar of political expediency. Indeed, the Qur’an likens backbiting and mudslinging to eating the flesh of a dead brother or sister. In verse 12 of Qur’an chapter 49, it poses the rhetorical question, “Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?” Let us, thus, remember that this country is more important than our personal egos and interests.

Chief Imam, Ulama, Jama’a, I have never retreated from my belief that education is our sure way out of poverty, disease and ignorance. Whilst my government does its part to ensure the development of the human capital in Zongo communities, I appeal to you to ponder on the first set of verses of the Qur’an to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Allayhi Wa’Salam). “Read! In the name of your Lord who created…who taught man by the pen. Taught man what he did not know” (Q: 96:1-5). In addition to the free senior high school programme, and the educational interventions by the Zongo Development Fund, I recently launched the Ghana Smart Schools Project, which will provide some 1.3 million tablets to students in senior high schools, that is One-Student-One-Tablet. All of these initiatives can only be meaningful if we take a keen interest in the education of our children. Certainly, let us give them the standard Makaranta training. But, by all means, let us ensure that they learn enough of the secular sciences to ensure that they become key players and well-rounded individuals in the development of the country.

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Ghana continues to be the envy of the world on account of the religious harmony that we foster among adherents of different religions in a secular state, which advocates religious freedom. I pray you to continue to promote religious harmony and co-existence. It is the essence of Islam, which means peace and submission to the will of Allah. I wish you a blissful celebration. Let us celebrate in moderation, so we can emerge from the celebrations in one piece to continue with nation-building.

I wish all Muslims and Ghanaians a happy Eid ul-Fitr, and may God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.

Eid Mubarak!

Barika da Sallah!

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Salam Alaikum!

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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang

The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.

The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.

This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.

“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.

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It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.

“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey

• Mark Okraku Mantey
• Mark Okraku Mantey

 Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed con­cern over the manner the facility was destroyed.

In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.

“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the peo­ple destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.

When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.

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He said he had previously con­tacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.

The demolition of the 20,000-seat­er Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.

According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limit­ed, the action was taken after multiple notic­es were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.

Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.

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Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.

He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.

Despite this, the demolition pro­ceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.

Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his busi­ness but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.

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