The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was received with a tumultuous reception in Kumasi, for the commissioning and handing over of the Kumasi Central Mosque.
Dr. Bawumia, is known to have funded the reconstruction of the iconic Mosque, to an ultra-modern complex with an expanded capacity from 4000 to 7000, as well as the provision of office complexes for Imams and Zongo Chiefs, and a conference room, among other facilities.
Present at the ceremony was the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Ministers of State, MPs, the National Chief Imam, Regional Imams, Members of the Diplomatic Corp and a large number of Muslims. Dr. Bawumia, was accompanied to the ceremony by a large number of NPP MPs from the Ashanti Region and beyond, in a move which underlines his overwhelming popularity in the NPP.
As he arrived on the grounds, in the company of the National Chief Imam, the enthusiastic crowd mobbed him with songs of commendation, in admiration and in appreciation of his gesture for the Kumasi community. The old Kumasi Central Mosque, is considered one of the oldest mosques in the country. The Mosque was officially commissioned by the Vice President and the Asantehene in time for Jummah prayers, then after which it was opened to the general public.
“I am really grateful to the Almighty Allah for giving me the vision, guidance and commitment to be able to undertake this massive project. I was touched by the Almighty Allah, when I visited the mosque in 2020 and realized that it needed urgent attention.
“The Asante Kingdom, predating the days of Otumfuo Sir Agyemang Prempeh, is documented to have cooperated with Muslims within the Kingdom. This beautiful tradition has also continued under successive Asantehenes. The presence of Otumfuo Osei Tutu Il today, signifies the premium the Asantehene and the Asante Kingdom, place on the historic relationship.”
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Its transformation, has significantly lifted its status to a modern mosque of international standard. The renovation and refurbishment of the Mosque, which is now one of the most modern edifices in Kumasi, solely financed by the Vice President in fulfilment of a promise he made to the Muslim community in the Ashanti region.
Ahead of the grand commissioning, groups of women from some zongo communities, embarked on a clean-up exercise on the compound of the Mosque. The clean-up exercise, involving Muslim women from the various political divide in the region, which according to the organizers, demonstrated the unity among the women to undertake a just course, in-spite of their political differences.
It was also to sensitize the people in the zongo communities, to be sensitive to their environment and undertake regular clean-up exercises and imbibe in them, the culture of maintenance in their communities.
Hajia Zeinab Sallow, Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party Treasurer, who was one of the organizers, told the Ghana News Agency during the clean-up exercise that, it was the duty of all Muslim women irrespective of their status, to join and ensure that the renovated Mosque maintained its status as the dwelling place of Allah.
She indicated that the exercise would be a regular feature, to ensure the surroundings of the Kumasi Central Mosque was always tidy. Hajia Ramatu Sakib, the Asawase constituency women’s organizer of the National Democratic Congress, on her part, said the clean up exercise was non-partisan, therefore all Muslim women in the region should come on board to beautify the place and receive the blessings of Allah.
Second Biggest Mosque in Ghana
The Kumasi Central Mosque, can be said to be arguably the second biggest mosque in Ghana, after the Accra Central Mosque in Ghana. The 7000-seater capacity mosque with a 100-capacity ablution center and 30 underground washrooms was commissioned by Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday, March 3, 2023.
The Kumasi Central Mosque is now the biggest and spacious Mosque in the whole of Ashanti region, which is fully air conditioned, with 11 furnished offices. Additionally, it has a 500-capacity conference hall, two-bedroom apartment, among other electrical fittings.
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