According to the Muslim cleric, the determination and  resilience exhibited by President Akufo-Addo, resulting in his  victory after a third try, coupled with the overwhelming margin  of victory secured in the elections, pointed to the level of  confidence Ghanaians had reposed in him as the leader who would  bring progress and prosperity to the nation.

Maulvi Bin Salih stated this when he led a delegation of the  National Executive Council of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission to  the Presidency to thank President Akufo-Addo for gracing the  85th anniversary celebration of the Mission, on January 12,  2017.

He noted that Ghana’s major “shortcoming” over the years had  been the leadership, explaining that the hardworking,  industrious people of Ghana “do not deserve the situation we  find ourselves in.”

Maulvi Bin Salih noted that the result of the December 7  election “proved that Ghana was mature and is ready to take  back its place in the comity of nations. He was confident that Ghana, under the leadership of President  Akufo-Addo, would thrive, indicating that “I am not  prophesying, I don’t prophesize. I am only talking out of my  convictions.”

Touting the selflessness of the President, Maulvi Bin Salih  noted that barely five days after taking office, “and even  though we (Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission) hadn’t come to  congratulate you (President Akufo-Addo) on your victory, you  did not hesitate to honour our invitation. The President  assured me that he will attend the event, stating that ‘I will  not disappoint you’, and true to his word, he did not  disappoint.”

Maulvi Bin Salih extended an invitation to President Akufo-Addo  to the Annual Worldwide Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim  Mission, which would take place from July 28-30, 2017, in  London, adding that “you will become the very first President  ever to attend this event, should the President decide to  honour the invitation.”

President Akufo-Addo, on his part, said he was grateful for the  words of commendation from Maulvi Bin Salih, and applauded the  contribution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission towards the  development of country, in the fields of education, healthcare  and the provision of social services. President Akufo-Addo noted that in addition to the  constitutional provisions which demanded religious tolerance  and harmony amongst the populace, he told Maulvi Bin Salih he  had a deep, personal attachment to the Ahmadiyya Muslim  Mission.

“Your predecessor, the late Maulvi Wahab Adam was one of my  principal counselors, a deeply religious person and a man of  integrity. As Attorney General, I had the privilege of  recommending him to President Kufuor for appointment as a  member of the National Reconciliation Commission, which was set  up to heal the wounds of the nation after decades of military  rule. He excelled in the work of the Commission and was one of  its driving forces,” he added.

The President also paid tribute to the late Alhassan Bin Salih,  elder brother of Maulvi Bin Salih, stating that “he was one of the great figures of our party. He was a man of unbending  integrity, and made sure that we always did the right thing.”

President Akufo-Addo appealed to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission  to “pray for me and for those who work with me, so we are  inspired by the Almighty to do a good job for Ghana. Pray to  God to give me wisdom, courage and make me a compassionate  leader."

“I want to be an honest leader, a good leader and one who will be remembered as having contributed significantly to the progress and welfare of Ghana.”