The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Leaders and representatives of various Muslim stakeholder groups will be converging in Accra on Friday, October 25, 2024, for the beginning of the fourth annual conference of the National Muslim Conference of Ghana (NMCG).

The theme for this year’s event is “Towards Bridging the Gaps in National Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: The Role of the National Muslim Conference of Ghana.”.

The opening ceremony for the three-day event is expected to be graced by the heads of political parties, representatives of parliament, including members of the Muslim caucus, and the speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin.

Over the past four years, the organisation has been instrumental in creating and managing a platform for Muslims in Ghana to share ideas and deliberate issues of common interest.

It seeks to act as the official mouthpiece of Muslims in the country while promoting the participation of Muslims in governance through contributions to the development of national policies and legislation, especially those that directly affect Muslim lives.

The NMCG, which is registered and therefore has a legal existence and, as such, can sue and be sued in a competent court of law, is established under a deed signed by the leaders of all Muslim groups in Ghana.

These include the Ahmadiyya, Tijaniyya, Ahlu Sunnah, Shia, the Ghana Muslim Mission, and the Muslim Caucus of Parliament.

It has an administrative structure where the National Chief Imam is the head of the institution and the chair of its governing body.

The second layer of the structure is the management board, which is currently chaired by a Member of Parliament, Alhassan Tampuli.

The Management Board comprises members and officers of Parliament, selected Muslim professionals in the fields of education, health, engineering, law, and finance, as well as representatives of all the Muslim sects in Ghana.

It has committees to deal with issues of education, health, finance, law, and publicity, among others.

The conference also has a secretariat, which, at full capacity, is expected to have finance, legal, education, and health directorates.

The secretariat, which is headed by the General Secretary, would be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the activities of the conference, including the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes to be considered and approved by the Board and the Governing Body.

The conference will, among other things, serve as a mouthpiece for all Muslims on matters of mutual concern, provide a forum to deliberate on national policies and programmes, and provide opportunities for Muslims to participate in the legislative process through the submission of memoranda to committees of parliament.

It also intends to represent Muslims and seek redress in the courts of the land on matters affecting the legal and fundamental rights of Muslims in Ghana.