I'll empower Zongo communities—Mahama

Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has outlined progressive policies aimed at empowering the Zongo communities and enhancing inter-city development.

"My next government will commit to implementing targeted affirmative action measures aimed at bridging significant developmental gaps and accelerating growth in inner cities and predominantly Muslim areas.

“My government will promote social equity, stimulate economic development, and foster social inclusion for a more balanced and prosperous Ghana.”

The NDC Presidential Candidate, who occupies the 8th position on the presidential ballot paper, stated in the party’s Election 2024 manifesto, captioned “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity,” stated on the subtheme “investing in people for inclusive growth.”

Former President Mahama said based on his past experience as an Assemblyman, Member of Parliament, Minister of State, Vice President, and later as President of Ghana, it has shaped his understanding of the problems facing Ghanaians.

On educational infrastructure and support for Islamic education, the NDC presidential candidate said his next government will initiate an educational infrastructure programme to expand educational infrastructure in Zongo communities.

“We will enhance and resource the Islamic Education Unit under GES to enable effective monitoring and recruitment of more Arabic teachers.

“We will commence an infrastructure upgrade of the AL-Faruq College of Education and facilitate accreditation of Islamic schools such as the Institute of Islamic Research to support the training of more Arabic teachers.

“We will provide scholarships to Muslim students, particularly in the fields of law, medicine, engineering, and ICT, and facilitate partnerships to establish Islamic tertiary institutions,” he said.

On Economic Empowerment and Support for Muslim Communities, Mr. Mahama said his government will establish the Soyaaya Fund to provide working capital for SMEs in Zongo communities.

“The next NDC government will ensure the National Women’s Bank provides tailored support for Muslim women to support their business growth.

“We will extend the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) support to some poor, aged widows, and orphans in deprived Muslim communities,” he stated.

He said his next government, to be formed in 2025, will implement measures to ensure transparency in the Hajj management by, among others, reviewing and reducing Hajj fares.

“We will support pilgrims within the middle belt to fly directly from Kumasi to Saudi Arabia and review the regulation that governs the Hajj board.

“We will grant an additional holiday for Eid celebrations and address all forms of discrimination against Muslims, especially discrimination against women who are prevented from wearing the hijab in school, at work, and other public places.

“We will review the Marriage of Mohammedans Ordinance, 1951 Cap 129, and streamline the legal framework for the recognition and certification of Muslim marriages in Ghana.

“We will establish Islamic mortuaries at some major hospitals for the early retrieval and burial of corpses according to Islamic customs,” he said.

On health and infrastructure development in the Zongo communities, the NDC presidential candidate revealed that his government will equip health facilities in Muslim communities with relevant health infrastructure.

“We will partner with the private sector to build new abattoirs in communities such as Turaku and rehabilitate existing abattoirs to conform with World Health Organization (WHO) standards,” Mr. Mahama stated.

Former President Mahama has reiterated that the next NDC government will initiate the Big LEAP to pursue an economic inclusion programme for LEAP beneficiaries and the urban poor with complementary funding support from state and non-state sources.

“We will introduce Livelihood Enhancement programmes for households with productive capacity and improve access to essential services for LEAP households by implementing multiple complementary initiatives.

“We will develop specialised projects for indigent persons within coastal and urban-poor communities and establish an Emergency Response LEAP Grant Programme to collaborate with relevant disaster management organizations to deploy emergency LEAP to provide respite to disaster victims.

“We will provide educational scholarships for children of LEAP households,” he said.

Mr. Mahama therefore called on the electorates to vote massively for him as President and all NDC Parliamentary Candidates across the country to form the next government.