An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdul Hannan Abdul Rahman, has argued that the decision by the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to receive prayers at a shrine during a community campaign in Accra is justified.

According to the leader of the Coalition of Muslim Organisations Ghana, the action by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia does not contravene the true conduct of a practicing Muslim.

“Let’s be fair to him, he is a vice president for all. He represents everyone. So, if he visits a group and is invited and prayed for without him being the one pouring libation in prayer, it is his right, and Islam has made it flexible for all of us to do such in furtherance of national cohesion,” he stated.

The cleric further argued that as a leader in a multi-religious nation, the vice president is at liberty to promote religious tolerance and that Dr. Bawumia’s action speaks to his leadership qualities.

Dr. Bawumia, as part of his campaign in the Greater Accra Region, visited some Ga communities where he was captured in a video receiving prayers from a Wulomo at a shrine.

Critics of the vice president have questioned his fidelity as a Muslim following the circulation of the video, while supporters of the NPP have lauded him for exhibiting religious tolerance.

Meanwhile, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has accused religious leaders of failing to hold the government and the vice president to account over what he describes as bad governance.



GA/AE

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