he Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Kennedy Agyepong, has pledged his allegiance to the Islamic faith and outdoored his new Muslim name, “Sheik Osman”; a name he chose after a renowned Islamic philanthropist during Prophet Mohammed’s era.

Islam, he noted, is a religion of peace and Muslim brothers and sisters should live according to the dictates of the religion by avoiding violence.

The MP disclosed that the name was bestowed on him by the Muslim community in Madina after he had recognized their contributions to national development and allotted airtime on both radio and television for soul-touching and development-oriented Islamic programmes.

Speaking on Diamond FM’s Diamond Power Drive (DPD), he said he had lived with Muslim friends in Pakistan and was fully convinced the religion was indeed a religion of peace and could foster development in localities where it is practiced.

He was however worried Muslim youth in Ghana allowed themselves to be used in perpetrating violence and crime to the detriment of their most cherished religion.

He said the erroneous impression that Islam is associated with poverty and underdevelopment should cease, appealing to various stakeholders of the Islamic faith to contribute towards this worthy cause.

“The time has come for our Muslim brothers and sisters in Ghana to make the religion more attractive to the unbelievers.”

The outspoken MP who expressed much interest in the North said he did not feel ashamed being associated with Islam which is perceived as a northern religion, and expressed his readiness to visit the North in future.

The interview, though short, afterwards attracted many commendations from listeners over Mr. Agyepong’s desire to propel Islam in the country, with many singing his praises.

Others were particularly impressed he has the welfare of the North at heart and prayed he lives to fulfill his desires of seeing a more appreciable Islam in the country.

From Stephen Zoure, Tamale