Ghanaian Muslims in UK bid farewell to Akufo-Addo

The leaders of the Ghanaian Muslim Association in UK on Saturday paid a courtesy call on Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and his wife in his London home.

This call on the NPP 2012 Flagbearer was in response to a visit he paid to the London Ghanaian Community Mosque on Friday December 27 for worship, special prayers and interaction with the Muslim community. It was also to bid him farewell as he and his wife prepare to return to Ghana later this month, after his three months sojourn in London, UK.

The delegation was led by Alhaji Sarki Baba (chief of Zongo UK and Ireland), Mallam Ibrahim(Deputy Imam chief zongo), Alhaji Baban Yaara Haidara (chief of staff of zongo chief, London), Alhaji Husseini Gali(Advisor to chief zongo), Alhaji Ridwanu, Alhaji Baraw (Advisor to chief Zongo), Chairman Sahyahu Midas Mende (former chairman of Ghana Muslim welfare centre).

Others included Alhaji Tijani(Youth activist), Alhaji Kamil(Chairman of Ghana Muslim welfare centre), Alhaji Ahmed Awuah(Imam), Mallam Abdul Razak (Imam), Baba Adams of Zongolink Radio-London and Murtala Imam.

Alhaji Sarki Baba, speaking through Alhaji Ahmed Awuah explained the purpose of the visit which he said was in line with Islamic culture that following Nana's visit to the Mosque it was customary for them to return the favour by coming to thank him and also wish him all the best of luck as he prepares to return to Ghana.

In a welcome message to the leaders, Nana Addo thanked them for the honour they have accorded him by coming to visit, and thanked them for their continued prayers for him and his family. He reiterated his message of unity and peace and applauded their effort at working towards Ghana's development.

In his short address, Alhaji Sarki Baba, the chief of Zongo also thanked Nana for visiting the Mosque and recognising the Muslim Community as an integral part of the Ghanaian Community in UK. He praised Nana for the respect he has accorded the Muslim Community and pledged the community's support to Ghana in all future endeavours.

The Chief of Staff of the Zongo Chief, Alhaji Baban Yaara Haidara praised Nana Akufo-Addo for his bravery in suing for peace after the Supreme Court verdict and said for him, this singular act of selflessness on the part of Nana has cemented him in history as a great statesman.

This comment drew the applause of the entire delegation. Continuing, Alhaji Haidari stated that this same gesture portrays the characteristics of the kind of leader Ghana requires at this time in the nation’s history. Following this statement was the Islamic complement of ‘Allaeeeh Takbir’ from a member of the delegation; to which the crowd responded, ‘Allahu Akbar’.

On behalf of the Muslim Community, the Zongo Chief presented Nana Akufo-Addo with a special Muslim fabric called Getzner Shaddah; Alhaji Hussein Gali described the present as ‘the biggest Islamic shaddah batakari in the UK’. For the second time in this historic meeting, the place erupted in applause and laughter in reaction to the Alhaji’s comment.

The visit was facilitated on behalf of NPP UK by the Nasara Team led by Sulemana Arafat Abdulai, Nasara Coordinator, and his team made up of Issah Ayumah (Deputy Coordinator), Fauzan Shamsudeen (Sarikin Samari of Nasara UK), Alhaj Braimah Alhassan(Treasurer Nasara UK)and Alolo Muntaka (Secretary Nasara UK).

Present to accord the required moral support to the Nasara Team were Hayford Atta-Krufi, chairman NPP UK, Veronica Heming, Women’s Organiser NPP UK (also Magajian Nasara UK) and Marlon Anipa, Assistant Secretary of NPP UK.