GOV'T. MAINTAINS GHC15 K HAJJ FARE

Government has maintained the amount of money charged on Muslim pilgrims last year as the fare for their Hajj to Saudi Arabia. 

Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who disclosed this, said each Muslim planning to undertake this year’s Hajj will pay 15 thousand Ghana Cedis. 

Alhaji Dr. Bawumia made this known while addressing Muslims at separate venues during his tour of the Ashanti region to join Muslims in performing their Ramadan obligation.

Ashanti is the 7^th region the Vice President was touring to join his Muslim brothers and sisters in their Ramadan fast. 

Accompanied by some government appointees including the Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Alhaji Abubakar Boniface Saddique, Deputy Minister for Energy and the two Deputy Chief Executives of the Zongo Development Fund, the Vice President first mourned with Muslims at the Aboabo Number Two near Kumasi on the death of one of their members. 

From there, he paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten, before joining Muslims from the Offinso area at their prayers at Offinso Central Mosque. 

They prayed for national progress and divine guidance for the government led by President Akufo-Addo for peace and security.

The Sarkin Zongo of Offinso, Issahaku Kabore speaking through an interpreter, appealed to government to establish an Islamic Senior High School in the Offinso Municipality to provide the educational needs of the Muslims community.

The Minister Inner Cities and Zongos Development, Alhaji Abubakar Boniface Saddique, said the NPP government has the welfare of Muslims at heart.

Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamamudu Bawumia, noted that, despite the difficult economic circumstances inherited by the government, it has already redeeming its priority campaign promises. 

He said the Zongo and Muslim communities stand to benefit substantially from the free second cycle education programme since it has eliminated the cost barriers to formal education.

The Vice President announced that government has decided to maintain the amount of 15 thousand Ghana Cedis paid as fares by Muslim pilgrims during last year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and asked the muslims community to take advantage of the opportunity to undertake this year’s Hajj.

Alhaji Dr. Bawumia also joined Muslims at the Asante Mampong Central Mosque in their afternoon prayers before breaking the day’s fast with those at Effiduase.

At all the mosques, Alhaji Dr. Bawumia presented cash to the leadership of the Muslims and Zongos in addition to bags of rice, sugar, cartons of milk and tea to be shared among the adherents for their fasting. 

At Offinso, the Vice President disclosed that government has already engaged about three thousand Arabic Teachers with plans to recruit more to serve the Arabic schools in the country. 

Alhaji Dr. Bawumia disclosed again that in fulfillment of the NPP’s campaign promises, the government has not only created the Zongos and Inner Cities Development Ministry, it has also established the Zongo Development Fund with a seed money of 10 million Ghana  Cedis this year with the appointment of two Deputy Chief Executives. 'Very soon you will begin to see development in the Zongos", the Vice President assured.

Alhaji Dr. Bawumia pledged 100 bags of cement to tile the Offinso Central Mosque. 

He also said he would consider their request for the establishment of an Islamic Senior High School in the Offinso Municipality.

During a courtesy call on the Mampongmanhene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, the second in command of Asanteman praised highly Alhaji Dr. Bawumia for his sterling performance in government so far particularly in matters of national economic policy.