Alhaji Labib Imam Ali
The re-introduction of stipends for Arabic teachers by President Akufo-Addo, which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cancelled during its tenure, is turning the political tide in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) among Muslims, especially in the Western Region.
Speaking about what he called a ‘game changer’ in the Zongo communities in the region, the Nasara Wing Coordinator of the NPP, Alhaji Libab Imam Ali, said currently over 3,000 Islamic and Arabic teachers were benefiting from the re-introduction of the arrangement.
He told DAILY GUIDE that the NPP government had contributed immensely towards the construction of one of the biggest mosques in the country in the Bono Region which is about 90 per cent complete.
He said President Akufo-Addo’s pro-Muslim policy as evidenced from the Zongo Ministry and the Zongo Development Fund had endeared the party to Muslims around the country.
He stated that an Astro turf had been built at Fadama in Accra and named after the revered national Chief Imam, Sheikh Alhaji Dr. Nuhu Sharubutu, for sports development among the youth in the area, saying the Astro turf added to the litany of programmes being undertaken in favour of Muslims.
“The NPP has also donated more than 10,000 bags of cement and made cash donations for developmental projects across the Zongos by the Vice-President during his annual Ramadan tours,” he said.
He announced that the Muslim leadership in the Western Region had begun campaigning for the NPP ahead of the 2020 polls.
The campaign which is being done under the aegis of the Nasara wing of the NPP in the region is hinged upon what the leadership says is the verifiable pro-Zongo policy of Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led government.
Imam Ali said the tailored-made policies had accounted for the defection of many Muslims in the Zongo communities in the Western Region to the NPP. The NPP, he told DAILY GUIDE, was the only party under whose tenure Muslims could be assured their fair share of the national cake.
“We are grateful to President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the special love they have exhibited towards the Moslem Umma and wish to assure them that we will retain the government come 2020,” he said.
“In fact, we the Nasara wing will also work hard to explain government policies to our people to ensure that NPP gains more votes in the Zongos,” added.
Previously, Zongo indigenes were encouraged to believe that they were affiliates of the NDC, he said, adding, however, that now that “our people know better, the 98 per cent votes the NDC used to get from these segments of the country will no longer be forthcoming.”
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi