The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged Christians and Muslims to do all within their power not to allow religious lines to divide the country.
He said unlike politics, religious leaders must take deliberate steps to protect the religious harmony and tolerance in the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the National Mosque of Ghana on Friday, July 16, 2021;at the forecourt of the edifice, President Akufo-Addo said even though Ghana is a Christian majority state,;the country has maintained a high level of respect for religious beliefs and choices among the citizenry and same must be jealously guarded.
President Akufo-Addo also said it was heartwarming that as a Christian majority country,;symbol of Islam can beautifully adorn the landscape of the capital city.
“The minaret of this mosque is very visible from many parts of Accra. For me, it is not just the beauty it added to Accra’s skyline that excites me necessarily,;I am even more excited by the fact that as a Christian majority country,;a symbol of Islam can beautifully adorn our landscape and demonstrate the beauty of religious harmony we enjoy in Ghana and which continues to be the envy of the rest of the world.”
President Akufo-Addo
He further urged the National Chief Imam and Muslim leaders in the country to use the occasion of the ceremony to further foster the unity.
“”In other words, a mosque is supposed to bring people together and not divide them. National Chief Imam, I just urge you to use the occasion of this ceremony to foster and;even further the unity of the Muslim Ummah in Ghana and by extension, the unity of the Ghanaian people.”
President Akufo-Addo
Mosque, not just a place of prayer
Touching on the importance of the mosque in the theological aspect of Islam, President Akufo-Addo noted that the mosque was not just a place of prayer, but a hub for social and cultural activity.
He stressed the invaluable role the complex would play in positively impacting the lives of the people in the Muslim communities in the country.
President Akufo-Addo called also on the managers of the Mosque complex to take good care of the facility and build its profile as a tourist destination for travellers and devotees of the faith.
He tasked the Tourism minister to craft an appropriate strategy to make the edifice a place of pilgrimage and tourism.
The President thanked the government and people of Turkey for the sacrifice they had made to bring the National Mosque of Ghana project to fruition.
He was sure that the gesture would further deepen the strong bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
“You have indeed honored our country with such a magnificent edifice. In the days to come, this edifice will serve as a historical reference point in Ghana-Turkey relationship.”
President Akufo-Addo
The Ghana National Mosque Complex is a gift from Turkish philanthropists to the Ghanaian Muslim Ummah. The magnificent edifice located in Kanda, typifies the Turkish-Islamic civilization architectural works.
