A renowned Moslem Scholar, Professor Emeritus Lukeman MOHAMMED has described as very insulting and denigration of Muslims and others who live in Zongos, the promise to Develop a Zongo Development to raise the image of such communities.
Professor MOHAMMED, a senior Lecturer at the City University of New York said politicians should seize looking down on the intelligence of people of northern origin who live in such deprived communities with vague promises.
He was contributing to a forum during Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah's encounter with Professionals.
The Professor who sounded very emotional elaborated; "I find this statement very discriminatory. I find this statement as being called special. Let us treat Zongo people just as we do to all Ghanaians. That Zongo Development Fund in our sense is not doable. I heard some lies over there but please let us not treat Zongo people that way"
Professor MOHAMMED did not mention any political party but he was obviously reacting to a promise by the New Patriotic Party NPP.
GHANA'S largest opposition party has been parading series of promises to the Zongo community particularly, referring to the choice of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as running mate as a key example of its commitment.
But Professor believes Dr Bawumia a Muslim has failed to protect the dignity of Muslims by speaking against the import of Nana ADDO's campaign team.
The NPP and the NDC have been debating each other over policies and previous actions by their governments to promote the interest of Muslims and Zongo communities by extension.
Many aged Muslims whose parents were chased out of the country when Nana Akufo ADDO's father, briefly acted as GHANA'S President.
The pain, loss and bitterness is still vivid in their minds and have vowed to vote against the Danquah Dombo Busua tradition.
The NDC which is exploiting it however insists its governments have demonstrated real commitment.
President John MAHAMA's government has built what for now is the only Islamic College of Education in West Africa at Wenchi which will help Train Islamic teachers in Arabic .
The NDC saw creation of the Islamic Education Unit. The NDC government under Jerry Rawlings passed a law creating two holidays to commemorate holy days on the Islamic calendar.
The NDC has promised to pass a policy that will make Arabic examinable in schools which offer them
The NDC, which has never elected a Moslem as a Vice Presidential candidate or candidate is also in record for creating the three regions of the north which opened up development in the area.
Professor MOHAMMED's strong objection amplifies the position of the silent majority who have read in between the lines.
Zongos are areas populated predominantly by settlers from Northern sahel areas.
Many of the settlers there are few who remained and grouped in those deprived areas to resettle after their parents properties were seized under the Aliens Compliance Order.
Critics of the NPP promise have asked few questions the party has avoided.
Does it mean that the zongos will be developed separately from the district where they settled?
Will it be resourced through the consolidated fund?
Does it mean that, projects in those districts will not be extended to the zongos because they would already have their developmental programs ?
Is the NPP by this telling us that the members of the zongos doesn't deserve to be among others, so creating a different " world" for them ?
Would the NPP create funds for Ewe settlers in the Ashanti region too?
Source: The Republic Newspaper
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WHAT HAS MAHAMA DONE FOR THE NORTHERS. EVEN WATER THEY DON'T GET TO DRINK. SCHOOL ARE UNDER TREES. BUT I BELIEVE AS A PRESIDENT YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING IN YOUR HOMETOWN AND YOUR REGION FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU AL THE TIME. NOW ANOTHER MONEY HAS BEEN STOLEN 300MILLION DOLLARS SHARING FOR EC AND POLICE SECURITY. BUT ONE THING THAT I KNOW IS THAT IF GOD SAYS YES NO ONE CAN SAY NO. THE YOUTH AND CHILDREN ARE COMING. THE FUTURE IS IMPORTANT THAN TODAY. YOU SHARING MONEY WITHOUT GIVEN US JOB SO IF I CHOP THE 100GH AND IT FINISH WHAT NEXT. MEANWHILE YOU BUILT HOTELS, BUYING ESTATE HOUSES IN DUBAI BOUGHT CARS AND HOUSE FOR AKUA DONKOR WHO HAS DONE NOTHING BETRAYED YOU BY KILLING PRESIDENT ATTA MILLS. BUT PAYING ALOWANCES TO TEACHERS AND NURSES WHO CATER FOR US YOU SAID NO.NOW BCOS OF POWER YOU ARE PAYING. YOU THINK GOD IS DEAD RIGHT? WATCH N SEE 2016 GOD WILL NOT WATCH US TO SUFFER AGAIN IN YOUR HANDS AMEN. I LIKE YOU BUT THE CORRUPTION IS TOO MUCH FROM YOUR MINISTERS.SO WATCH OUT
See what partisan politics can do. All comments bastardizing this man? Wow! We can't think far. Anyhow, Prof., in my view, you have made a good point. Those who don't understand you can go to hell. But you should extend same beyond the Zongo Development Fund idea. Do speak against the media-hiked support Muslims enjoy from governments every year during their Annual Hajj to Mecca, Annual Festivals, etc. It is discriminatory against other religions. Isn't it? Don't mind those kicking against your view citing SADA and so on. They should be able to know the difference between a political territory and an ethnic community. Shame on them.
it is obvious that this Professor has spoken fuuulishly, he didnt do his analysis well. He needs tutorials in development planning and management. In development planning it is allowed to put services at places where it is needed most. Actually, that is how development should be and a whole Professor should know better.
I think these are the people making the making the northern region poor all for their selfish interest.They know most of the people are illiterate so they fabricate false history,sing it to the ear of the people and steal from them because of they think thats the only to enrich themselves.Ndc is a divisive party and God willing we will vote them out all cost.
THIS PROFESSOR DOES NOT MERIT HIS ACADEMIC TITLE. I WONDER HOW HE PASSED HIS EXAMS TO GET THAT FAR. HE NEEDS TO DEFEND HIS THESIS AND OTHER ACADEMIC WORKS TO PROVE HIS WORTH. SHAME! ndc professor.
PROFESSOR, IF SO WHAT ABOUT NORTHERN SCHOLARSHIP, SADA, NHIS AND OTHER SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS INTRODUCED SUPPOSEDLY TO BRIDGE THE NORTH AND SOUTH DEVELOPMENTAL GAPE. YOU SERIOUSLY HAD IT WRONG AND COULD ONLY BE MOTIVATED BY SELFISH INTEREST. UNRESEARCHED AND BOGUS ANALYSIS. YOU NEED TO BE STRIPPED OF YOUR PROFESSORSHIP. SHAME.
THE WHITE PEOPLE THOUGHT OF INVENTING AEROPLANE, SHIP, RADIO,COMPUTERS,CARS, TRAINS AND MANY OTHERS.NOW,IF SOMEBODY IS TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT YOU ARE SAYING IT IS NOT POSSIBLE BUT PAYING 51 MILLION GHANA CEDIS TO ONE PERSON IS POSSIBLE. ANYWAY,YOU HAVE STATED YOUR POSITION.
This man is exposing his ignorance and absurdity. It was not discriminatory when Northerners received free education, it was not insulting when SADA was establish but not it is insulting when Bongo Fund would be establish under NPP. You 're rather insulting Northerners for no reason, cheap professor with no sense of purpose just to create hate and anarchy. You have failed because this won't wash
I wasn't sure what to believe when someone said that my northern elites will like to keep the people in eternal poverty n ignorance because they (elites) benefit from it. Thanks to the so-called professor, I'm now clear on what to believe. Shame to DESPERATE NDC.
aaaaba Prof!!. is there any problem trying to solve problems of our people. please dont be blinded into politics. in your quest to help this loosing ndc to maintain political power, becareful you dont loose your integrity. Prof paa nie?