Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to protect the nation’s cultural diversity to engender good neighbourliness and social harmony.

The nation, he noted, has been blessed with a unique cultural diversity and the people have been united by common traditional beliefs, cultural norms and values for progress.

Vice President Mahama was addressing an annual durbar of the Zongo Youth Association at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi.

The programme involved cultural performances by various tribal groups including the Dagombas, Moshie, Gonja, Mamprusi, Wangara, Hausa and Frafra.

The Vice President and other Ministers of State from the Northern part of the country, who graced the occasion, could not help but join in the performances, drawing applause from the huge gathering.

Vice President Mahama said it was undeniable that the Zongo communities, which had existed since the Trans-Saharan Trade and evolved to become an integral part of the Ghanaian society, had its own challenges that were contributing to the under-development of the people.

He asked the leaders to rise up to those challenges, particularly in the area of education by mobilizing resources to improve schools’ infrastructure and complement the government’s efforts.

Vice President Mahama reminded the leaders of the contributions made by Islamic scholars in the areas of medicine, physics, climatology, astrology and other human endeavours.

He said this should inspire the people in the Zongo communities, especially the youth to embrace secular education.

Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawasi, asked the people to promote peace and unity.

Mr Samuel Sarpong, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, advised Muslim youth to avail themselves of government programmes and interventions to help better their lot.