Bawumia : elections must focus on policies not religion

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has stressed that the December elections should not be based on religion or religious divides.

Rather, he argued, the focus should be on the policies, ideas, and solutions that each candidate has for Ghana.

Dr. Bawumia, speaking at Sunday’s (June 16, 2024) Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) congregational prayers at Black Star Square in Accra, attributed Ghana’s status as one of the continent’s most peaceful countries to “our religious tolerance.”

In that regard, he urged Muslims to maintain the magnificent national value of respecting variety, particularly in religion and race, stating that it was critical to community, national, and human survival.

He stated that Muslims should be inspired by acts of selflessness and sacrifice, such as caring for one another and sacrificing for noble causes that benefit their families and communities.

Diversity

“We live as Muslims and Christians in harmony. We are one people, we are one nation and we should let this election be about the policies and ideas and solutions that the respective candidates have for the country and that should be what we should be focusing on,” Dr Bawumia stressed.

Eid ul-Adha is a remarkable and noteworthy day on the Islamic calendar that commemorates prophet Ibrahim’s example demonstration of obedience, selflessness, and sacrifice when he followed Allah’s command without hesitation to sacrifice his only beloved son Ismail.

The Vice President stated that Prophet Ibrahim established the highest example of sacrifice and obedience, which no worshipper could follow.

However, he stated that people must follow Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice attitude in their own small ways to serve one another in their neighborhoods and across the country.

Global events

While praising Ghanaians for their sacrifices and understanding, Dr. Bawumia stated that global events over the last three to four years have had a huge impact on nations and their citizens.

He stated that Ghana had not been spared, straining the sacrifices of many.

He said Ghana, like the rest of the world, was virtually shut down for days, and its land borders had been restricted to economic activity for approximately two years.

Dr. Bawumia noted that this resulted in a number of uncomfortable situations for citizens, including a rapid increase in inflation, particularly for food prices, around this time last year.

“These developments required lots of sacrifices by Ghanaians as government tried to ameliorate the impact. Even though it was not pleasant for many Ghanaians, many understood the situation and sacrificed, as government worked round the clock to find solutions including a number of measures,” he said.

Vice-President Bawumia said “even though we are not where we want to be, that is, back to the economic boom we experienced few years prior to the crisis, the data shows that our economy is on the path of economic recovery.”

As a government, he stated, “we appreciate the cooperation and sacrifices Ghanaians continue to make in the challenging times we have experienced in the past few years.” He also stated that the government has drastically reduced general expenditure.

Indeed, he stated that more has to be done to sustain the progress being achieved to alleviate the impact on Ghanaians.

Government’s commitment

Despite the global economic crisis, Dr. Bawumia stated that the government remains determined to delivering on its mandate to Ghanaians in all sectors of the economy, including education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and job creation.

In the area of jobs, for instance, he indicated that “data clearly shows over the last seven years, our government has created 2.1 million jobs, the highest of any government in the fourth republic but we still have more to do.”

“We have done a lot in the area of infrastructure, roads construction, health care and education through the free Senior High School (SHS) programme. We have seen an increase in the enrolment of students from 800, 000 in 2016 to 1.4 million by 2023, a 75 per cent increase in just seven years,” he emphasised adding that “We have also invested in STEM education with state of the art facilities to provide the best in this contemporary area of education.”

The Vice-President said government had also began the distribution of tablets to SHS graduates adding that “We have to continue to prioritise and spend more on education and skills training because it is the best way to empower the youth of this country and place value in our most important national resource.”

Zongo Development Fund

Regarding the Zongo Development Fund, he stated that it had been the primary engine of infrastructure and human development in many Zongo settlements, providing schools, bridges, drainage, water systems, health facilities, information and communication centers, and astro turfs.

He also stated that a number of individuals and groups have received support for skills training, entrepreneurship, tertiary education grants, and full foreign education scholarships.

“It is our expectation that the 40 needy but brilliant young men and women from Zongo communities who were granted scholarships to study medicine in Cuba will return home soon as fully qualified medical doctors,” Dr Bawumia indicated saying “This is what investing in education can do, creating opportunities, empowering the youth, breaking boundaries and making the seemingly impossible possible.”

He expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam and requested his continued support as he sought Ghanaians’ mandate to serve the country as President.

Appreciation

In an address read on his behalf, National Chief Imam Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharubutu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his unwavering regard, support, courtesies, reverence, aid, and visits during his tenure.

He stated that these were gestures of generosity he would never forget.

The Chief Imam also thanked Vice-President Bawumia for covering the cost of all Eid celebrations since becoming Vice-President.

Sheik Sharubutu exhorted all political parties during this year’s elections not to let their political disagreements lead to confrontations, unrest, and violence.

He stated that “your blood relationship should not be destroyed on the basis of your disagreements” and advised the parties to remain together as brothers and sisters.

He also urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take all necessary measures to ensure legitimate and peaceful elections while upholding the principles of impartiality, transparency, fairness, and a high level of competency.

The Chief Imam also requested the Ghana Police Service to maintain a high level of professionalism, justice, and impartiality.