According to him, although those principles were religious, they applied effectively to the delivery of sustainable and inclusive societal development that left no one behind.

“These principles also reflect the nature of Allah, as he is referred to as the God of justice, truth, patience and gratitude. So as Muslims, we have no option than to uphold these principles. I, therefore, promise to be as just, truthful and patient as possible in this task,” he said.

Occasion

Dr Abdul-Hamid gave the assurance when he took his nationwide familiarisation tour of inner cities and Zongos to Kyebi Zongo at Abuakwa in the Eastern Region last Thursday.

Already, theminister has toured areas such as Madina, Korle-Gonno and Chorkor, all in the Greater Accra Region.

He said the tour was to enable him to pay homage to the traditional, religious and community leaders of those areas to leverage their support and build partnerships for the effective delivery of the national inner cities and Zongo development agenda of the government.

Dr Abdul-Hamid said both inner cities and zongos would receive equal attention and he would the foundation of the ministry's development agenda.

He said although the Quran called for much prayer, he explained that the Quranic verses that established prayer were only three, indicating that the principles of a successful life, were more than prayer.

At Kyebi, he also visited the artificial football complex started by his predecessor and indicated that he would ensure that the multi-purpose facility was completed within schedule.

Zongo development agenda

Emphasising the importance of the sector ministry, Dr Abdul-Hamid said it had become a tool for the effective delivery of the development the Zongos had envisaged many years ago.

“The truth is that Muslims have always been desirous of development in Ghana and that led to its forefathers establishing the Muslims Association Party (MAP). This party was formed to push the development they hungered for but their dream never materialised,” he said.

Dr Abdul-Hamid said the creation of the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, therefore, had granted Muslims that wish by providing a tool to deliver their decade-long wish for development through, the MAP that did not materialise.

While acknowledging the efforts of successive governments to develop inner cities and Zongos, Dr Abdul-Hamid said it had taken several years for the Akufo-Addo-led government to prioritise Zongos and inner city development by setting up a ministry mandated solely for that development agenda.

Differences

Dr Abdul-Hamid appealed to indigenes of inner cities and Zongos to bury their individual, political and ethnic differences and rally all the strength in their unity to help the government deliver in their interest.

He said the government’s agenda was about Zongo and inner city development, devoid of partisan politics, and indicated that any gain made in that regard was for the benefit of all in those communities.

“If the government succeeds in that agenda, everybody in these communities benefits as well, regardless of political affiliations, and that is our focus-to deliver an all-inclusive development,” he said.

Member of Parliament

The Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South Constituency and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea , who hosted Dr Abdul–Hamid and accompanied him on his tour, gave an assurance that it was the government’s priority to ensure decent housing and sanitation infrastructure in Zongos and inner cities.

He said his presence at Kyebi demonstrated the confidence he had in Dr Abdul-Hamid to deliver.

Chief of Kyebi Zongo

The Chief of Kyebi Zongo, Abu-Bakr Sadik, expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for establishing the ministry and for all the projects the government had started.

He said he was optimistic that such a move would accelerate the delivery of the development of Zongos and inner cities as envisaged by the government.

He said he was more excited because prior to the establishment of the ministry, it was difficult to get access to public officers who had been placed in charge of Zongo development and inner cities.