President joins Muslims to offer prayers for nation
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday joined the Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, and the Muslim fraternity to offer prayers for Allah’s blessings of prosperity, progress and development for the country.
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The Muslim prayers formed part of the activities lined up for the 60th anniversary celebration of the country.
Accompanied by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, the President urged Ghanaians to continue to stay as one people as the country embarked on a journey to address the number of challenges that confronted the people.
Unity in diversity
“Let us continue to stay as one. Different people, different religions, different beliefs but united as Ghanaians in the development of our country as a free prosperous nation that is governed according to the rule of law in which human rights are respected,” the President said.
That, he said, was the vision of the founders of the nation and which Ghanaians ought to continue to realise in the present time.
“It is my prayer that the Almighty continues not only to bless our nation but give wisdom and strength to those of us whom He has appointed to guide the affairs of our country,” he prayed.
‘I look up to Allah’
President Nana Akufo-Addo said his desire was for Allah to give him wisdom, strength, compassion and courage to do the right thing to all manner of people of Ghana without ill will or malice and without favour to anyone.
Describing the Chief Imam as one of the prominent spiritual forces in the country, the President asked for long life for him to continue to live and help the country.
“Chief Imam, I count on you, as I have counted on you for many years, to give me support and spiritual assistance,” he added.
Free SHS
Vice-President Bawumia said Ghanaians ought to have the opportunity to develop themselves, regardless of tribe or religion, saying that vision was amply manifested in the President’s maiden budget presented to Parliament.
“The President said during the campaign that when voted into power, he would bring free SHS education, but there were many who said it was not possible; there were many who doubted him. But yesterday we saw the manifestation in the budget and he has provided the resources for the beginning of the free SHS in September,” he said with satisfaction.
President Akufo-Addo shaking hands with some muslims after the prayers. Picture SAMUEL TEI ADANO
Zongo Development Fund
Touching on the Zongo Development Fund, he said the Zongos were places inhabited by the poor, with very limited infrastructure, for which reason there was the need to dedicate funds for their development.
He recounted that when the President said he was going to set up a Zongo Development Fund, there were people who said he could not do it or he was just engaging in politics, but yesterday in the budget the President provided GH₵219 million for the fund.
He said the government would not back down on any promise made to Ghanaians and that the coming days would see a careful execution of the mandate given to the government by the good people of Ghana to transform the fortunes of the country.