Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf Mburidiba (R) in a handshake with Sheikh Dr. Abu Dujana Basha
Correspondence from Northern Region
The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf Mburidiba, has criticised former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for doing little to address the rising cost of Hajj fares under the previous NPP government.
He stated that while it took President John Mahama, a Christian, less than two months to reduce Hajj fares by GH¢13,000, Dr. Bawumia “sat and watched” as the fares skyrocketed.
The Northern Regional Minister made these remarks when Islamic Cleric Sheikh Dr. Abu Dujana Basha paid a courtesy call on him at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale on Tuesday.
“That GH¢75,000 that Bawumia sat and watched Muslims pay to travel to Mecca—in less than two months under H.E. John Mahama’s administration has been reduced by GH¢13,000. If you convert that into dollars and take it to Mecca, at least, it could be in your pocket as spending money. But instead, all these costs were added to the [fare], and Bawumia saw it as normal, very, very normal,” Ali Adolf remarked.
“John Dramani Mahama has never overlooked the prayers of Muslims—never has he done that. He has always respected Muslims, and their problems are his problems. So, see this as your own as well,” he added.
Sheikh Abu Dujana, the founder and leader of the Darul Tawheed Islamic Institute, paid the visit to the minister to inform him about his campaign to promote peace between the Dagombas and Konkombas in the Zabzugu District of the Northern Region.
As part of his efforts to restore lasting peace in Zabzugu and Kuntumbiyili where recent tribal tensions led to the loss of at least one life he is teaming up with other Islamic leaders of Konkomba descent to engage in an intensive peace campaign in the two communities.
Dr. Abu Dujana emphasised that the intervention of Islamic leaders would help find a lasting solution to the issue.
He stated that they, as Islamic leaders, would intensify their visits to the two communities, beginning this weekend, to preach peace, especially to the youth.
“I invited my Konkomba Imam brothers. They came to my place; we sat down and held a meeting on how we could find a permanent solution to this particular problem. We concluded that we, the imams, are the ones who can resolve the recurring tensions,” he said.
“If we increase our visits to those areas and actively preach peace, I believe we can help solve the problem,” Dr. Abu Dujana added.
The revered Islamic leader stated that their campaign would be centered on the words of Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
“We will visit both communities, engage in discussions with them, and emphasize the importance of peace—especially as revealed by Allah Almighty and taught by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Peace is the best. It is the only thing we truly have. When we lose peace, we lose everything,” he explained.
The minister commended him for the initiative and pledged the full support of his office to ensure its success.
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze: