President Akufo-Addo responding to cheers from the crowd. With him are Sheikh Khalifatul Akbar Ahmed Abdul Faidi (right), Supreme Leader, Tijaniya Muslim Council, Sheikh I.C Quaye and Mustapha Hameed.
President
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised the Muslim youth to help change the
narrative of the Zongo community being the den for recruiting violent persons
to cause mayhem during elections.
“The Muslim
youth cannot continue to be the ones who are used for violent purposes. Do not
allow yourselves to be used by irresponsible politicians to engage in acts of
destabilization and violence,” he said.
Speaking
at the inauguration of the National and Greater Accra Regional Executives of
the Tijaniya Muslim Council under the theme: “Religious Tolerance, The Panacea
For Peaceful Coexistence” in Accra yesterday, the President said “I advise you
to take the guidance of your Sheikhs seriously.”
“I want
to make this appeal to you: in 2020, do not allow yourselves to be used by
irresponsible politicians to engage in acts of destabilization and violence,”
he stressed.
He also
urged peace-loving Muslims to speak up against radicalism and all forms of
violence that are being negatively perpetuated in the name of religion, saying “it
is for you to rescue Islam from the extremists whose activities around the
world seem to be defining Islam.”
President
Akufo-Addo congratulated the new members of the council and spoke of his
unflinching commitment to create a society for all Ghanaians irrespective of
religion, ethnicity and gender. “Policies such as the establishment of the free
senior high school, establishment of the Zongo Development Fund are meant to
achieve this goal,” he added.
The Tijaniya
Muslim Council is the representation of the Tijaniya Sufi sect in Ghana.
National
executives of the council include Shaykh Ahmad Abul-Faid A.A. Maikano as
Spiritual Head and President, Alhaji Mohammed Tahoe Saeed as Chairman, Musa
Bawa as Vice Chairman, Ahmad Abdallah as General Secretary and Alhassan Baylor
as Deputy Secretary.
Other
executives include Abdul Rahman Salifu as Treasurer, Alhaji Tijani Jibril as
Deputy Treasurer, Abdul Rahman Mohammed as Organizer, Abdul
Latif Mohammed as Deputy Organizer and Abubakar Musa Commander as
Communications Director.
The Greater Accra Regional Executives include Mallam Sani Thyabu as Chairman, Nuhu Shaibu Ayiki as Vice Chairman, Mallam Abdul Fatawu Musah as General Secretary, Mallam Adam Ibrahim Baako as Treasurer, among others.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Issah Mohammed
