No Higher Calling Than Serving Zongos – Mustapha Hamid

Former Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid says his re-assignment to the Ministry for Inner City and Zongo Development couldn’t have been better.

The Minister who recently graduated with a doctorate in Religion and Human Values from the University of Cape Coast is one of the very first ministers affected by the president’s first reshuffle since he took office.

Dr Hamid does not see the re-assignment as a demotion but rather one which provides him with an opportunity to serve his own people of the Zongo and others in the inner city.

In an interview shortly after the reshuffle was announced, he told Joy News’ Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Newsnight that the new appointment is perfect.

“I have been given a higher calling because there is no better service than service to your people. I am a Muslim and our scriptures tell us that we have been created solely for the purpose of worship, in other words, to worship the almighty Allah. Therefore, there is no better service to the Almighty Allah than service to a community that is largely inhabited by Muslims.

“Quite frankly I am beside myself with excitement,” he added.

Dr Hamid said as an Islamic scholar and a product of the Zongo community, he understands the psychology of the people and dynamics of the community makes a perfect fit for the role.

You need that connection to be able to serve the people and I believe that the president has made the right calculation in arriving at his decision, he said.

He continued “in my view, he couldn’t have chosen a better person.”

In response to what his view was on the appointment of his deputy Kojo Oppong Nkrumah as substantive Information Minister, he said he has absolute confidence in him.

According to him, Mr Nkrumah was someone he personally selected to be his deputy, and he is elated that the president saw him fit for the position.

“I am overly excited that somebody that I had trust and confidence in and chose with the help of the president to be my deputy continues to elicit the confidence of the president.”

One of his topmost priorities at his new ministry, however, will be to improve on the foundation that has already been laid by the outgoing minister.

"I agree, I have to come with my own set of priorities and vision and so on but it is basically to improve on what he has done."

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | E: [email protected]