The Ghanaian Minaret

There are citizens across diverse fields who inspire many through their commitment to faith, family, and service.

Notable among these citizens are Muslim couples who have risen to prominence in academia, politics, finance, medicine, law, and the arts and still kept the tie of family well knitted.

After combing round the country, we bring you a list of some influential Muslim couples whose individual and collective contributions continue to shape the national landscape.

1. Sulemanu Koney & Dr Rabiatu Deinyo Ammah

Sulemanu Koney, a distinguished mining expert and former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, is the husband of Dr Rabiatu Deinyo Ammah, a renowned academic and interfaith scholar.

The couple has three children after decades of marital partnership built on shared values and service.

Mr Koney, an alumnus of Accra Academy, holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from KNUST, a master’s in international business from the Maastricht School of Management, and a postgraduate diploma in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

He was also a founding member of the Steering Committee of Ghana’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), where he championed transparency and stakeholder collaboration in the mining sector.

Dr Ammah, the daughter of a former High Court judge, is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department for the Study of Religions and a senior research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations in Selly Oak, UK.

She earned her BA from the University of Ghana and later pursued her MA and PhD in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham.

The former Council of State member representing the Greater Accra region is a trustee of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Ghana (FOMWAG), a founding member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, and Chairperson of the Ghana Academy of Muslim Professionals (GAMP).

2. Naa Alhassan Andani & Hajia Safura Andani

Naa Alhassan Andani, Paramount Chief of Pishigu and a renowned banker, is married to Hajia Safura Andani, a veteran environmental engineer with deep expertise in water and sanitation.

The two are an embodiment of leadership in traditional authority and professional excellence.

Mr Andani previously served as CEO of Stanbic Bank Ghana and was Deputy Managing Director at Barclays Bank.

He graduated from the University of Ghana with a degree in agriculture before obtaining a master’s in banking and finance from the Finafrica Institute in Milan, Italy, and completing executive programmes at Oxford and INSEAD.

He currently chairs the Zakat and Sadaqa Trust Fund, which supports charitable causes across Ghana.

Hajia Safura, a former student of Wesley Girls’ High School, holds a degree in civil engineering from KNUST and began her career as a lecturer.

She joined the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in 1997 and served as Greater Accra Regional Director until her retirement in July 2024. She now leads FOMWAG as its national Ameera (leader).

3. Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah & Dr Afisah Zakariah

Professor Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), is the lifelong partner of Dr Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.

Both are illustrious medical professionals whose careers have profoundly influenced Ghana’s healthcare system.

Prof. Zakariah, who has been the head of NAS since 2006, is a specialist in intensive care medicine, cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anaesthesia.

His qualifications span several countries and include an MD and diploma in French from Cuba, postgraduate degrees in Belgium, an executive MBA from GIMPA, and international instructor certifications in life support from the USA.

He has also served in key clinical and teaching roles at Ridge Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Dr Afisah Zakariah, a medical doctor by training, was formerly the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ministry of Health.

She contributed to the development of the national health sector’s evaluation framework before moving to the Ministry of Gender, where she now serves as Chief Director.

The couple has four children and remains active in advancing healthcare policy and administration.

4. KT Hammond & Justice Nabeela Naeema Wahab

Lawyer and politician Kobina Tahiru Hammond, popularly known as KT Hammond, is married to Justice Nabeela Naeema Wahab, a High Court Judge.

Their partnership reflects the intersection of religion, political influence and judicial excellence.

Mr Hammond was Ghana’s longest-serving MP for the Adansi-Asokwa constituency, serving six terms from 2001 until 2024, and held the position of Minister of Trade and Industry.

A respected figure in Parliament, his legal and legislative contributions were instrumental in passing laws that have enhanced the country’s economic, political and social climate.

His wife, Justice Wahab, the daughter of the late Maulvi Abdul Wahab Adam, former Ameer and missionary-in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, was called to the Bar in 2008.

She earned an LLM in International Maritime Law from IMLI in Malta, graduating as the best student in her class.

Her legal career began at the Office of the Attorney-General, culminating in her appointment as a High Court Judge in 2022.

5. Tony Baffoe & Kalsoume Sinare

Former Black Stars defender Anthony Baffoe and celebrated actress Kalsoume Sinare are among Ghana’s most admired celebrity couples.

Married since December 1994, the couple raised three children while balancing careers in sports and entertainment.

Baffoe was the first Ghanaian expatriate footballer to play for the national team, earning 25 caps and appearing in the 1992 and 1994 African Cup of Nations.

He served as CAF’s Deputy Secretary-General for Football and Development until 2021 and is the founder and current General Secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana. In 2016, he was named Sports Personality of the Year by SWAG.

Kalsoume Sinare, a pioneer in Ghanaian cinema, has starred in over 50 films and inspired a new wave of female movie stars. She is also the sister of politician and former ambassador Said Sinare, further cementing the family’s contribution to national development.

6. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia & Samira Ramadan Bawumia

The former vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, met his wife in May 2003 and would tie the nuptial knot nine months later, on February 14, 2004.

The couple who had their first child in December 2004 had three more kids after 20 years together.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President of Ghana, and his wife, Samira Ramadan Bawumia, are widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential political couples.

Dr Bawumia, an economist and former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, rose to political prominence in 2008 when he was selected as the NPP running mate.

During his two tenures as vice president, the son of Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, the Fourth Republic’s first chairman of the Council of State, played a significant part in modernising digital infrastructure and governance.

His spouse, who attended Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School, has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science, law, sociology, and technology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Recently, she obtained a law degree from the University of London.

The daughter of the former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and a sibling to Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, the Member of Parliament for Adenta Constituency has championed causes including women’s empowerment, education, and environmental sustainability through the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP).

Together, the Bawumias have actively supported philanthropic initiatives across the Muslim community, including educational sponsorships, medical aid, and support for Islamic causes.

As leaders in their fields and communities, these couples continue to inspire a new generation of Muslims in Ghana and beyond by exemplifying how shared values, education, and commitment to public service can create lasting impact.