Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on the new Ameer and Missionary-in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, to congratulate him on his elevation as the head of the Mission in Ghana.

Accompanied by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his running mate for the 2016 election, and K.T. Hammond, Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Nana Akufo-Addo’s visit to Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih was a follow-up to a congratulatory message he sent on September 23, 2014 after the confirmation of Maulvi Bin Salih as Ameer.

The purpose of Nana Akufo-Addo’s call on Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, he said, was three-fold.

“Firstly, I should have been here to and express my personal condolences over the death of Maulvi Dr. Wahab Adam. He was an extraordinary man, a man who impacted his society greatly. I had a very good relationship with the late Maulvi Wahab Adam. As Attorney General, I had the privilege of recommending him to President Kufuor for appointment as a member of the National Reconciliation Commission, which was set up to heal the wounds of the nation after decades of military rule. According to all accounts, he excelled in the work of the Commission,” Nana Addo said.

Secondly, the NPP flagbearer stated that he was at the Mission House to congratulate Maulvi Bin Salih on his appointment as the new head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, adding that “those who know better, know that you can fill the shoes of Maulvi Wahab Adam and that is why they have made you the Ameer.”

It will be recalled that Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Malih V, Supreme Head of the World wide Ahmadiyya community confirmed Maulvi Bin Salih’s appointment after serving as the Acting Ameer, following the demise of Maulana (Dr) A. Wahab Adam in June 2014. Maulvi Salih before his appointment to the position of Acting Ameer, was the second Deputy to the Mission.

Nana Akufo-Addo also asked for intercessory prayers from Maulvi Bin Salih and members of the Ahmadiyya Community in Ghana “for the Almighty Allah to give me strength, wisdom and a compassionate heart, and also to be a good leader of the flock” after his overwhelming victory in the October 18 presidential primary.

“It is my wish that we establish a personal relationship, like the one I enjoyed with your predecessor and I hope that the doors that were open to me past will be open to me during your tenure,” he said.

Maulvi Bin Salih, who was formally confirmed as the leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana on the 21st of September, 2014, after the 48th international Annual Conference of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in London, thanked Nana Akufo-Addo for making time to visit him and to congratulate him on his new position.

He explained to Nana Akufo-Addo that upon the passing of Maulvi Wahab Adam, he was, in a matter of minutes, made the head of the Muslim Mission by the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission “because our tradition has always been that we don’t make room for a vacuum.”

Maulvi Bin Salih also revealed that upon his confirmation as the Head of the Mission, one of the very first people to congratulate him was Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a letter he sent on the 23rd of September 2014.

“The first congratulatory message I received from anyone was from Nana Akufo-Addo. I least expected it, it caught me unawares and I found it difficult to reply. I needed it (Nana Akufo-Addo’s letter) most at the time I received it. It gave me confidence and satisfaction that out there, there are people who are looking out for me and will teach me how to walk in the ‘oversized shoes’ of Maulvi Wahab Adam which I have been asked to fill,” he said.

He continued, “The show of love and brotherliness I have received has been so overwhelming and I am inclined to believe that the Almighty felt I could fill the shoes of the late Maulanna. Knowing very well that someone like you is solidly behind me gave me the strength to kick-start my work. May Allah protect and bless you. May He give you sound and good health, and may He grant you longer life for you to continue your beneficial service to Mother Ghana and the world at large.”

Maluvi Bin Salih congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his overwhelming endorsement by delegates of the NPP in the October 18 presidential primary and also prayed to Allah that “when He is giving it (victory in the 2016 election) to you, we pray that He gives it to you in that same amount and abundance in the overwhelming manner NPP delegates gave to you.”

Present at the meeting were Members of the National Executive Council of the Ahmadiyya Mission namely Mr. Abbass Wilson; Alhaji Ghansah; Alhabi Rahaman Annin, General Affairs Secretary and head of National Conference Committee; Mr. Muslim Ismail; Alhaji Ahmed Bin Salih; Maulvi Mohammed Timmah, Personal Assistant to the Ameer; Brother Yusif Abu, head of the Audit department; Alhaji Mohammed Yusif Twumasi, head of Finance; and Alhaji Ahmed Suleman Anderson, General Secretary.