The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has urged the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga,to discharge his duties with utmost dedication to achieve the vision of the President, especially in the sanitation sector and the consolidation of religious harmony.
He said local governance was the central spine of the country’s development and must, therefore, be prioritised if the government wanted to ensure the reset agenda had the desired impact on all Ghanaians.
For instance, he said when the Local Government Ministry was able to effectively use local structures to address the waste management challenge, and worked with religious leaders to promote religious harmony, it would pave the way for national progress.
"We cannot achieve development objectives we need when there is no peace and unity and that is why I always pray for God to grant President John Dramani Mahama and his ministers the direction to execute projects that will benefit Ghana," he said.
Courtesy call
Sheikh Sharubutu stated this when Mr Ayariga paid a courtesy call on him at his Fadama residence last Friday.
The visit was to express appreciation to the Chief Imam for the support and prayers since his nomination to his swearing-in as minister.
It was also to seek his guidance to enable him to execute his mandate efficiently.
Discipline
The Chief Imam underscored the need for the minister to work with the clergy and relevant stakeholders to preserve and mainstream interfaith harmony in the country.
He said since Ghana has diverse religious backgrounds, interfaith harmony must be pursued vigorously in the national interest.
The Chief Imam decried the recent indiscipline of the youth, especially in second cycle schools.
Assurance
Mr Ayariga, who is also the MP for Bawku Central, assured the Chief Imam that he would work with other stakeholders to deliver on the mandate entrusted to him by the President.
He noted that although the task ahead of him was enormous, it was not daunting and with the prayer support of the Chief Imam, he would achieve the set objectives and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
"The task ahead is enormous because I have been assigned to manage 261 MMDAs and MMDCEs, 16 regional ministers, religious institutions, as well as the huge sanitation challenges confronting this country. This responsibility can only be successfully carried out with the support of prayers of the Chief Imam," he said.
Mr Ayariga said prayers of the National Chief Imam had been pivotal to national development and, therefore, needed recognition from all.
He assured the Chief Imam that he would take all steps to discharge the role entrusted to him in a manner that would make the Chief Imam proud, stating that under his watch, the religious affairs aspect of the ministry would not be relegated to the background.
