The Nasara group of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region on Monday condemned recent castigations and attacks on Islam and Muslims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the media.

At a press conference addressed by Alhaji Abubakari Mohammed, Regional Nasara Co-ordinator in Bolgatanga, the group also condemned Mutala Ibrahim, NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Nanton in the Northern region for questioning the choice of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his commitment to Islam.

Alhaji Mohammed said Mr Mutala Ibrahims’s statement was shameful, careless and an affront to Northerners and the Islamic religion, asking him what authority he had as a Muslim to judge his colleague and called on him to withdraw and apologise to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Muslim Community.

He said every political administration in the country gave recognition to all religious groupings including Muslims but the NDC had failed because they never believed in the abilities and capabilities of Muslims and therefore the NDC dropped Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, a Muslim who was chosen as running mate to then candidate John Atta Mills in 2004.

Alhaji Mohammed said it was time for the NDC to live with the reality that the NPP had chosen Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a northerner and a Muslim for that matter to be a running mate to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo, Flagbearer of the NPP.

“We have been keeping our cool hoping that the NDC would come to the reality that Muslims and for that matter Islam deserved respect and dignity just like any other religion” he said.

He said Fiifi Kwetey’s report revealed by Wiki leaks indicated that no Muslim will ever become a president of Ghana and Mr Sam Pee Yarley on Radio Gold also made statements to the effect that Nima, a predominantly Muslim community was near the Jubilee House built by the NPP government and so President Mills would not move into it, this according Alhaji Mohammed, went to confirm the disrespect the NDC had for Muslims.

On behalf of the Nasara group, Alhaji Mohammed thanked the NPP for maintaining the tradition of north-south and Christian-Muslim balance since the time of Alhaji Aliu Mahama as Vice President during the NPP regime.

The Group also thanked Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo for the confidence reposed in Dr Bawumia and for the honour done the Muslim community, and prayed for a peaceful electioneering year.**