Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to pursue Observer Status for Ghana at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as it works towards full membership in the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to strengthen the country’s engagement with the Islamic world.

The President, represented by Mr Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, the Minister for the Interior, made the pledge at the opening of the Sixth Annual Conference of the National Muslim Conference of Ghana at the National Mosque, Kanda.

Holding OIC observer status allows a state to participate in OIC ministerial meetings and build diplomatic ties, which some countries use as a preliminary step before applying for full OIC membership and subsequently the ISDB.

Becoming a full OIC member is a prerequisite for joining the IsDB, which currently has 57 members who are the exact 57 full member states of the OIC.

Other requirements include the payment of an initial contribution toward the subscribed capital stock of the bank and acceptance of the terms and conditions set by an affirmative vote of the IsDB Board of Governors.

The president said he would seek advice from the Attorney-General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs on granting Executive recognition to the National Muslim Conference of Ghana to enable it to obtain at least Observer Status at the OIC’s annual conferences.

President Mahama said a country did not necessarily have to be an Islamic state to qualify for OIC membership, adding that Ghana’s engagement with the organisation could create opportunities for economic cooperation and improve access to facilities for Ghanaian pilgrims undertaking Hajj.

He described the conference theme, “Towards Promoting Good Governance in Ghana – The Role of the Muslim Community,” as timely, noting that governance affected every sphere of national life.

The President commended Ghanaian Muslims for what he described as their unity, saying representatives of the Ahlul Sunnah, Shia, Ahmadiyya and Tijaniyya communities came together to deliberate on matters of common interest.

He attributed the achievement to the leadership of the National Chief Imam and said Muslim communities across Africa and the world had lessons to learn from Ghana.

President Mahama assured the Muslim community that the government would continue to support the efforts of the National Chief Imam, leaders of the four main Muslim sects and the Muslim Caucus of Parliament to sustain the country’s example of religious unity.

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