Alhaji Bawa Ishmael, Executive Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Zongo Caucus, has underscored President John Dramani Mahama commitment to improving the standards of people living in Zongo communities in the country.
He said the NDC led by President Mahama was committed to uplifting the standards of Muslims and people in the zongo communities through education, health and social infrastructure.
Alhaji Ishmael was addressing members of the Zongo Caucus in Akyem Ofoase, Akyem Ayeribi, Akyem Oda and Akyem Swedru on a tour to round up the the Zongo Caucus national executives’ campaign tour in the Eastern Region.
He said the NDC since 2009 had been paying Arabic teachers through the National Youth Employment Programme to encourage them in the teaching of Islam.
Alhaji Ishmael said President Mahama was raised in the Zongo Community in Kanda in the Greater Accra Region and that there was the need to vote for him as he knows the existing problems of the people living in zongo communities.
He said many supporters of the NDC in the Zongo communities were passive and called on them to vote massively for the party on December 7th, adding, “We have done it before, and we can do it again."
Alhaji Yussif Captain, National Coordinator of the Caucus, said the NDC government had reduced and stabilized inflation to a single digit for more than one year, a historic achievement in Ghana's economy.
He said the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) free Senior High School (SHS) policy was impossible and that the NDC government in its quest to prioritize education was currently providing free school uniforms, exercise books, increase the capitation grant by 50 per cent and also expand the School Feeding Programme to reach more deprived school.
Alhaji Captain said education remained the bedrock for development, and government was ensuring that basic education became accessible to all children.
Alhaji Baba Kankani, Eastern Regional Co-coordinator of the Caucus, said President Mahama was a peaceful man and was always preaching peace in all his campaigns, adding , "God has already chosen President Mahama because he is a peaceful person and not a person who want to be President through bloodshed as amplified in other people's rallying cry; 'all die-be-dies'.
He said it was important that people in the zongo communities consider this time as their time to lead the country and that President Mahama was the right candidate to be voted for.
Alhaji Seidu Bunyamin, Central Regional Secretary of the Caucus also noted that the 2012 Hajj was smoothly organized by the National Hajj Committee through President Mahama’s support and committed for the Muslims in the country.
He said for the first time in Ghana's history, 18 return flights had been organized for pilgrims, who went to perform Hajj and also a newly constructed Hajj Village built through the support of Government and cooperate bodies.
Chief Fuseini Iddrisu, Zong Chief of Akyem Ofoase, on behalf of the people said education was important in every society and that the community would vote for the NDC to improve educational infrastructure in the area for their children to be educated.
Chief Abubakari Musah, NDC Zongo Chairman for Akyem Ayeribi, said the community would always vote for the NDC, adding "In every election, we vote the NDC, this year, we would vote it again."
Chief Mohammed Haruna, Zongo Chief of Akyem Swedru, said since 1992, the Zongo community in area had failed the NDC and that they would continue to support the party as President Mahama was their son.