President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government's commitment to amending the Holidays Act to grant an additional public holiday for the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.Speaking at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving service held at the National Mosque in Accra today, the President assured the Muslim community that the promise made in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto would be honored.

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"We promised to add one more holiday to the Eid-ul-Fitr. So as soon as Parliament settles, we're going to amend the Holidays Act to include an extra holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr," Mahama declared.He emphasized that, starting this year, the Muslim community will have two public holidays during the Sallah festivities, enhancing the recognition of the significant religious event.

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In addition to the extra holiday, President Mahama reiterated his government's commitment to protecting the rights of Muslim women to wear the hijab in public spaces."We will protect the rights of Muslim women to wear their hijabs wherever," he affirmed, emphasizing the administration’s stance on safeguarding constitutional freedoms for all Ghanaians.

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The President also outlined other commitments aimed at supporting the Muslim community, including scholarships for students in deprived Muslim areas, particularly in fields such as medicine, law, and ICT.He further pledged to increase the number of Arabic teachers and establish the Soiya Fund, a microcredit scheme designed to assist families in underprivileged Muslim communities.

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On financial reforms, Mahama announced plans to introduce Islamic banking instruments into Ghana’s financial system."We also promised to introduce Islamic banking instruments in Ghana, and so we will begin the discussion with the Bank of Ghana on how we introduce Islamic banking instruments into our banking and financial system," he stated.

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The President reaffirmed his government's dedication to ensuring inclusivity and equal opportunities for all citizens, particularly in underserved communities.

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