Vice President Dr. Bawumia in Upper West Region during his Ramadan tour
Islamic clerics have hailed the annual Ramadan tours of Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
They said that Dr Bawumia had raised the morale of Muslims across the country through the Ramadan tours.
The annual tours, which are characterized by the Vice-President breaking bread with fasting Muslims in various parts of the country – from south to north and from east to west – enable the Vice-President to explain government’s policies to the people.
Yesterday, the spokesperson to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shuaib, told DAILY GUIDE that the Ramadan tours are laden with positive outcomes.
“Dr. Bawumia, being a political icon in the country, is able to use such tours to inspire the youth in the Islamic communities across the country,” he said.
Sheikh Aremeyaw is one of the finest Islamic clerics in the country today, his opinions on various issues, especially pertaining to inter-faith relationship, are highly respected across the country.
His explanations about Islamic, especially to non-members of the faith, have provided a rare insight into the religion.
Continuing, Sheikh Aremeyaw said “it’s an opportunity for budding politicians in the Islamic communities to meet face-to-face with their role model from whom they have a lot to learn.”
“Dr. Bawumia, as a youthful personality, is using the tour to exhibit care not only by donations but also associating himself with the people he interacts with and it’s useful,” he said.
Mallam Mamman Issa of Nima said “it’s exciting to see the Vice-President continue what he commenced while in opposition.
“We are happy whenever we see the Vice-President, a Muslim undertaking such tours. It gives us hope and encourages us to want to see our children take education seriously. But for education, Dr. Bawumia would have not reached where he is today. “We are proud of his achievements and his passion for reaching out to us on such occasions,” he said.
Sheikh Ibrahim Issah Gomna, the cleric, who has presided over the annual Quranic commentary at the Takoradi Central Mosque for the past 18 years, said “last year, Dr. Bawumia’s humility was in full flight when he rejected stuffed chairs brought for him to sit in the mosque. He opted to join us on the carpets with the rest of us to also listen to the sermon.”
The support he rendered the Takoradi Central Mosque has changed the status of the facility, he said, adding that the Vice- President, through such visits, is able to reach out to people he ordinarily would not be able to interact with.
“The annual Ramadan tour is worthwhile and must be sustained,” he said.
In Dagbon, he interacted with the Yaa-Naa, who said “this is the first time that a Vice-President is breaking fast at the Gbewaa Palace; this is coming on the heels of a newfound peace and is good for development. That he did not start it when he became a Vice-President emits positive signals.”
By A.R. Gomda