Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned and handed over a newly refurbished Central Mosque to the Muslim community in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.
The newly refurbished complex has a capacity of 7000 with offices for Imams and Zongo Chiefs, and conference rooms, among others.
At the handing over ceremony held on Friday, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, showered praises on the Vice-President for giving the mosque a befitting status.
“Our special thanks and gratitude must go to our grandson, the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who informed me of his intention to give Kumasi a mosque that would better reflect its status,” the Asantehene stated.
Commitment
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II believes that the project bears testimony to the commitment of Dr. Bawumia to the development of Kumasi and especially Muslims who would use the facility.
“He was the first to inform me about it and I gave him my blessing and he has kept me fully updated from design stage through to the building stage. I monitored him sneak into Kumasi to personally oversee the construction. I am sure it has been a labour of love, satisfying a noble cause. This Mosque will forever stand as a tribute to his commitment and dedication,” Otumfour indicated.
For his part, the Vice-President recalled that a few years ago, he noticed that the mosque required some renovation work during one of his visits and hence was touched to consider a reconstruction of the facility.
Dr. Bawumia further thanked God for granting him the will and commitment to transform one of the oldest mosques in the country, into an ultra-modern and multi-purpose facility befitting the status of Kumasi.
To him, the history of the Kumasi Central Mosque cannot be complete without the supportive role played by the late Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh II, who gave out the land for the construction of the first Kumasi Central Mosque over one hundred years ago.
Gratitude
Expressing gratitude to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Vice-President stressed that the value Manhyia Palace places on Asanteman’s long-standing support for the Zongo Community had been further strengthened by the King’s remarkable leadership.
According to him, the beautiful cooperation between Asanteman and the Zongo community is a reflection of the general tolerance and co-existence between Muslims and Christians across the country.
He, therefore, urged all to promote the continuous unity and peace of the country.
“I thank His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his distinguished presence, as well as the numerous Members of Parliament from the Majority side, who accompanied me to the ceremony,” the Vice President stated.
Present during the ceremony were the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, some Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, the Muslim community in the Ashanti Region and beyond.
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