The Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has said his number one priority for the ministry is to strengthen education in the Zongo communities.
He indicated that as a product of a Zongo and an academician, he was optimistic that the development gaps within the inner cities and Zongos could be addressed through education.
“First of all, seeking knowledge in Islam is a sacred duty because everyone knows that the first commandment to Prophet Mohammed was that he should read, he should learn.
Read: No higher calling than serving Zongos – ‘Super excited’ Hamid accepts new role
So learning is a sacred duty for us,” he said.
The minister made these statements when he visited the Chief of Madina, Chief Baba Seidu, and other heads of the various Northern ethnic groups, religious and community leaders at Madina and its environs in the La-Nkwantanang Constituency.
His visit formed part of a familiarisation tour of communities under the ministry’s jurisdiction to pay homage to their leaders, solicit their support and build the needed partnership to deliver on the government’s inner cities and Zongo development agenda.
Read: Free SHS: Ignore Ofori Atta’s ‘dead opinion’– Mustapha Hamid
The minister’s first official visit as a Minister of the Inner Cities and Zongo Development was to afford him the opportunity to hear from the people whom he had come to serve, as well as gather first-hand information on projects his predecessor began.
Dr Abdul-Hamid pledged to transform the human resources of Zongos and inner cities in the country.
Islamic Education Unit
The minister pledged to engage with the Islamic Education Unit, Islamic senior high schools (SHSs) and other Islamic stakeholders in education to ensure that education became his real priority.
He was happy that Arabic had become an examinable subject at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and expressed the hope that by next year, the subject would also be an optional subject at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“We are going to try to make sure that we integrate secular education into the Makranta school system so that you can go to Makranta, learn your faith and also learn subjects that will make it possible for you to function effectively in the society,†he told the Muslim leaders.
Dr Abdul-Hamid pledged to help the President to transform the Zongo communities, assuring those communities that he would continue with the projects started by Mr Boniface Saddique before starting new ones.
He visited the artificial Astroturf which was started by his predecessor and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project.
Support
The chief of Madina and his people pledged their full support for the minister.
He described the minister, who is a resident of Madina, as a great motivation to the youth of inner cities and Zongo communities.
Source:Â Graphic.com.gh