Vice-President Dr. Bawumia, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, Freddie Blay and Patrick Boamah
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, yesterday blessed Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as running to President Akufo-Addo in the December polls.
“May Allah continue to help you and not disgrace you, increase and honour you,” the cleric prayed for Dr. Bawumia during the visit.
This was during the Vice-President’s visit to the residence of the spiritual leader at New Fadama in Accra yesterday to formally announce his choice as running mate to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 elections.
Since it is Allah who gives power to individuals to serve the nation in any capacity, he said it is imperative to have the Chief Imam invoked Allah’s blessings and protection as he and President Akufo-Addo seek the mandate of the people for another four-year mandate to govern the nation.
Dr. Bawumia spoke about the various projects and programmes undertaken by the Akufo-Addo administration since assuming the reins of government some three and half years ago, with the Zongo communities particularly benefitting from water facilities, school blocks and places of convenience through the Ministry of Zongo and Inner Cities Development and the Zongo Development Fund aimed at alleviating poverty and transforming lives.
Through the Zongo Development Fund, the Vice-President said the Scholarship Secretariat and his office had sponsored 40 students from Zongo communities across the country to study medicine in Cuba. He gave an assurance that the government was determined to continue prioritising its commitment to the development of education.
Aside from continuing the Free Senior High School policy, Dr. Bawumia said come next year, government would construct 16 model senior high schools across the country as part of its efforts to transform lives and empower the youth.
His conviction was “I believe that prioritising education will reduce poverty and transform lives in the Zongo communities and so over the past three and half years, the Akufo-Addo government has been providing the real needs of the people and not rice and sugar development.”
On his part, the National Chief Imam, through his Spokesperson, Sheikh Arimiyao Shuaibu, expressed gratitude to the government for seeking the welfare of Muslims and all Ghanaians.
He lauded the Vice-President for his humility and prayed for Allah’s continuous guidance and blessings as he sought the mandate of Ghanaians.
The National Chairman of NPP, Freddie Blay, who was also present, commended the Chief Imam for being an embodiment of unity and peace in the country.
He expressed gratitude to him for his wise counsel over the past three and half years and assured him of the NPP government and the party’s decision to continue to drink from his fountain of wisdom as they seek four more years to serve the people.
The Vice-President’s entourage included the Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central who is also its parliamentary candidate in the December elections, Patrick Yaw Boamah.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent