Leadership of the Muslim community has launched the Northern Region Muslims Council of Ghana in Tamale to tackle issues of development in the region.
The mission of the council is to established a vibrant organization that will inculcate the values and teachings of Islam in Muslims as well as addressing challenges confronting Muslims in the practice of the religion.
After two years of broad stakeholder consultations, the inauguration was held over the weekend on the theme: “Promoting sustainable unity and holistic development of Muslim communities; the role of the Muslim Council”.
Chairman of the Council, Imam Issah Alhassan Abubakar, in his welcome address said that it is an open secret in the region that people live in destitution and adversarial divisions have left everybody suspicious of the other.
“We would gather at one place but we are not together. We belong to the same unions but we are not united. Every institution or Mosque holds a different position on matters that call for one voice and common position at both regional and national levels” he pointed out.
He noted the narrative has to change and someone has to take the bold initiative towards bringing about the much anticipated change among Muslims.
Imam Issah took solace in Quran 13:11 that, Allah does not change the situation of a people until the people themselves change their own situation.
Over the years, the various Islamic sects in the northern region have taken entrench positions on matters of the religion which sometimes threatens peace and security in the area.
This also affects their ability to come together to begin the month of Ramadan on a common date and the subsequent two major annual Islamic festival, the Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Adha.
Meanwhile, the objectives of the council include; to promote peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, establish guidance and counseling centres in a bid to addressing social, moral, religious and other needs of the Muslim Ummah, to promote quality education and skills training of the Muslim youth, promote research Islam Theology and collaborate with administrative and traditional authorities for development, maintain discipline, peace, law and order among others.
The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, on behalf of the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, formally launched the council.
Dr Bawumia lauded the initiative which is geared towards bringing unity amongst the various Muslim Sects in the region as well as enhancing co-existence with other faiths and therefore commended the initiators of this significant event as well as the organizers for the event.
He intimated this initiative, no doubt, if properly managed and coordinated will go a long way to accelerate development of the region, on several fronts and urged the council members to ensure the objectives of the organization is realized.
Dr Bawumia emphasized the establishment of bodies and Councils of this nature would not only serve the interest of those groups of Muslim Ummah but rather would add up to the already institutions and other civil society organizations who have supported the Government to maintain this religious coexistence and peace as a country we are enjoying.
The Vice President stated the Akufo-Addo is committed to providing adequate resources for both skills development and infrastructure such sporting facilities and school blocks across through the Zongo Development Fund.
