Bawumia In Search Of God

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was born to Alhaji Mumuni and Hajia Mariama Bawumia, who were known Muslims and presumably, Bawumia was a Muslim by birth. This was to be known until Bawumia deliberately created confusion in the minds of the people about his religious identity, be it all for political expediency.

Bawumia started his journey in search of God when he made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2016, an election year. Haj is an important pillar in Islam which is obligatory on every Muslim who can afford to perform this ritual at least once in a lifetime. Bawumia's action was curious to every observer because , with all the resources and comfort that he has, he never saw the need to observe Hajj until he was desperately looking for Muslim votes in an election year. Many were those who considered his visit to Kabbah in Mecca, was purposely to seek Allah's blessings for his political victory and to confuse gullible Muslim voters into believing and voting for his party ticket. Nevertheless, I believe that is Bawumia's right and Ghanaians have to respect that. By this action, the religious identity of Bawumia should have been settled, interestingly, in a sharp and contradictory U-turn, he made another pilgrimage to the Vatican in 2024, another election year. His journey to the Vatican this time around was to visit the Pope and seek his blessings for his political victory, and to deceive gullible Christian voters into voting for him. How could a supposed Muslim engage himself in such a double standard?

It is curious to note that, not until Bawumia decided to express interest in Ghana's presidency, Ghanaians never knew that a man who was born to Muslim parents was trained in the church as a member of the Methodist Boys Brigade. By Bawumia's inference, his Muslim parents sent him to find God in Sunday school instead of Makaranta, where he was expected to be.

This strange religious posture of Bawumia continues unabated. In his search for God, he concluded that Christianity and Islam are the same. Bawumia made this statement on July 31, 2022, as a Special Guest of Honor at the launch of the 175th anniversary celebration of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana (EPCG). Bawumia said, "As children of the only and one true God, whether Muslim or Christian, we all believe in the God of Isacc, Jacob and Abraham. We all believe in the virgin birth of Mary. We all believe that Jesus Christ is the savior and that Jesus will come back again to save the world " In Islam, this statement is plain blasphemy to come from a Muslim. In Islamic belief, humans are not children of God, but his servants. Islam also strongly disagrees with the doctrine that Jesus is the saviour. Even from religious fanatics' point of view, Bawumia has ceased to be a Muslim since that pronouncement, unless he is rebaptised.

Bawumia's search for God continues and that led him to make another misguided religious statement in the church by misquoting the Bible. In Bawumia's desperate attempt to hoodwink Christian believers to accept him as one of them, he intended to prove his knowledge of the Bible in the church of Owusu Bempah, the Spiritual Father of the NPP. Unfortunately, Bawumia embarrassed himself by quoting the wrong verses which angered Christian believers and further exposed him for the pretender that he is.

Bawumia's contemplation of where to find God is curiously interesting. This is a man who is building churches for Christians and mosques for Muslims. He categorically stated at the Adabraka Official Town branch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on Sunday, August 22, 2021, that he Bawumia has made his contribution towards the building of the Cathedral already and called on Christians to do the same. Bawumia said, " I have contributed and I will contribute more, so I will encourage everybody to think about it. Bawumia in the same manner donated GHC 510,000 for the construction of a mosque in Tamale, in March 2024. The big question is, why should a Christian build mosque for Muslims and Muslim build church for Christians? Which religion will the person be promoting? Can one belong to a particular religion and promote a different one? One can only belong to one religion at a time and be its agent; by promoting it through his actions and inactions.

Bawumia was again widely accused and condemned by a section of Ghanaian Muslims for taking communion at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in 2023. Communion is solely for believers (Christians). You must believe that Jesus died on the cross to clean up your sins to take communion. Communion is purposely a ritual for Christians to reestablish their covenant with Jesus Christ. So, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, where do you belong?

It is clear from the above that, Bawumia has a religious identity crisis. He deliberately created this confusion around his persona for political expediency; all with the intention of exploiting religion by misleading gullible people of faith into voting for him to achieve political victory. One can only belong to one religion at a point in time, but requires as a leader to serve, do good and deliver justice to all manner of people irrespective of their faith or religion. Ghanaian voters are discerning and willing to vote for a member of any religion to lead Ghana, provided the person has a proven record of competence, integrity, good human relationships and the desire to do justice to all manner of people. It is very clear from every objective observer that Bawumia is exhibiting a double standard in his religious Identity. Dr. Bawumia better become a free thinker, or stay with one religion and dedicate yourself to it, irrespective of your desire for some worldly gains for your own good.

Somaisonka Liman, I Shall Return.