President Akufo-Addo could be telling his newfound friend ‘barka da sallah’ on the occasion of Eid Ul Fitr when he met little Haafiz Zak Rahman at the Independence Square yesterday. The Zongo Minister Mustapha Hamid
All is now set for development projects to start in the Zongo communities, as the Finance Minister signs a commencement warrant to that effect.
By the signing of the warrant, the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development can commence drawing funds from the 2019 Zongo Development Fund budgetary allocation for projects in Zongo communities across the country, the President announced yesterday during the Eid El Fitr prayers at the Independence Square in Accra.
Owing to the development, the Zongo Development Fund, which is the implementation arm of the Zongo Ministry, would execute projects which it could not do because of the unavailability of funds.
Zongo Projects
Projects to be undertaken, the President disclosed, include the provision of water systems, rehabilitation of school blocks and building of new ones, provision of desks for Islamic schools and rehabilitation of tertiary drains, among others.
These, according to the President, would go a long way in addressing the challenges confronting Zongo dwellers across the country.
“The officers of the Zongo Development Fund, based on the many requests that they have received from across Zongo communities, have already translated the commencement warrant into actionable projects and work on these various projects should start very soon,” he said.
Why Zongo Ministry
The President told his hosts that he set up the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development to make the Zongos and inner cities key aspects of the national development agenda.
“We want to ensure that inner cities and Zongo communities no longer become exclusion zones for breeding despair and hopelessness. The task may be daunting, but our determination is unwavering,” he added.
The Zongo Minister, Dr. Mustapha Hamid, has worked with the President for many years and so knows and appreciates his capabilities.
No wonder he expressed confidence in his ability to meet the needs of many people in an assortment of areas.
“I urge you to give him the maximum cooperation that is needed to deliver on the vision of the government. Let us be focused as we embark on the journey towards bringing prosperity to the over four million people who live in our Zongo communities,” he added.
The President saluted Muslims for enduring the challenges of fasting for a whole month.
“Besides the spiritual attainment of the month, you deserve commendation for the strict disciplinary code that you have adhered to throughout the period. I pray that Allah accepts our collective prayers and continues to shower his grace, mercies and peace on our nation and makes her great and strong,” he added.
Chief Imam
The President used the occasion to once again congratulate the National Chief Imam for turning 100 years, describing the club of centenarians as an exclusive one.
“By every measure, it’s a blessed and privileged club. The National Chief Imam’s guidance of the Muslim flock in Ghana has been truly exemplary, and we continue to pray for Almighty’s blessings of wisdom, good health, long life and prosperity for him,” the President said.
He urged Muslims to remain righteous and not to fall to the temptation to return to the old ways of iniquities after Ramadan.
The President urged Muslims to adhere to the tenet of the Holy Quran regarding fasting, saying “fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain righteousness.”
Prosperity
He promised to bring prosperity to Ghanaians through hard work.
“To that extent, every policy that we have pursued so far has been meant to engender inclusiveness so that we can move away from the old system of governance that left many Ghanaians at the periphery,” the President said.
Muslims in other parts of Accra and the country said congregational prayers to mark the occasion.
By A.R. Gomda