The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has promised the Muslim community that it will promote the study of the Arabic language across the country in addition to its plans to restore allowances for teachers and nurses in training colleges, when voted into power.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, made the pledge while addressing members of the party at the National Nasara Conference held over the weekend at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Addressing a gathering in the Hausa language, Dr Bawumia, who said he was expecting overwhelming votes from the Muslim community and settlements (Zongos) in this year’s presidential and parliamentary polls, said: “We [NPP] will also bring back the allowance to Arabic tutors. We will champion both Arabic and English language across the country."

He further stated that under the governance of the NPP, the annual Hajj programme will undergo a positive transformation, and entreated Zongo residents to vote for the Danquah–Busia-Dombo party for these promises to be realised.

He said the party’s flagbearer wants to give specific attention to Zongo Development by creating a Zongo Development Fund when he comes to power, amongst other social interventions

“We will also restructure the hajj pilgrimage. We need the support of the Zongo communities in order to take power from the governing NDC,” he added.

Dr Bawumia condemned the governing NDC, as he accused the President Mahama-led administration of inflicting hardship on citizens.

“We all know the untoward hardships that they have brought on all of us, especially the Zongo communities. We are all aware of the good works of the NPP from 2001 to 2008,” he added.

According to him, the resources used in developing the country under President John Agyekum Kufour, which he said totalled GHS20 billion, helped the party to facilitate the Capitation Grant, National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), School Feeding Programme, free Metro Mass bus rides for school children, National Health Insurance, free maternal care, and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, amongst others.

He accused the NDC of being in power for seven years and yet taking loans amounting to GHS200 billion without investing in productive sectors of the economy. To him, the current administration has ruined most of the programmes started by the NPP.

“They cannot handle the National Health Insurance, they can’t pay GETFUND and contractors, the teacher training allowance is in arrears, and the School Feeding programme has collapsed. We were paying teachers' allowance, but the NDC has decided not to pay the allowance anymore. They have rather increased water and electricity tariffs and other taxes. Our children are not getting employed while there is so much suffering in Ghana.”

“The NDC is burdening citizens with taxes and this is seriously affecting business. We in the NPP will reduce the taxes and allow businesses to grow. We will change the tax system by reducing import duties,” he emphasised.