Mahama opens 6th National Muslim Conference in Accra

President John Mahama has opened the 6th Annual Conference of the National Muslim Conference of Ghana, calling for continued collaboration among Muslim leaders to promote good governance and national development.

The President, who was represented by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, formally opened the conference at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra.

The conference is being held on the theme, “Towards Promoting Good Governance in Ghana – The Role of the Muslim Community.”

President Mahama described the theme as timely, saying governance affects all spheres of life and commended the organisers for creating a platform to examine the Muslim community’s contribution to good governance.

He also pledged to seek observer status for Ghana at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and pursue membership of the Islamic Development Bank.

He said he would seek advice from the Attorney-General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs on granting executive recognition to the National Muslim Conference of Ghana to enable it to obtain at least observer status at the OIC’s annual conferences.

According to him, Ghana does not need to be an Islamic country to qualify for membership of the organisation.

He said the move would open up economic opportunities for Ghana and improve access to facilities for Muslims undertaking Hajj.

The President commended Ghanaian Muslims for their unity, noting that Ahlul Sunnah, Shia, Ahmadiyya and Tijaniyya groups sit together to deliberate on issues of common interest.

He described this as a milestone achieved under the leadership of the National Chief Imam and said Muslim leaders across Africa and the world had lessons to learn from Ghana’s experience.

President Mahama assured the Muslim community that the government would continue to support the National Chief Imam, leaders of the four main Muslim sects and the Muslim Caucus of Parliament in their efforts to sustain the unity and peaceful coexistence.