President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his promise to introduce a two-day holiday for Eid-al-Fitr celebrations, during his speech at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event at the National Mosque in Accra on Friday, 10 January 2025. He assured attendees that Parliament would soon amend the Public Holidays Act, 2001 (Act 601), to include an additional holiday for the Muslim festival.
“We promised to add one more holiday to the Eid-al-Fitr. So as soon as Parliament settles, we’re going to amend the Holidays Act to include an extra holiday on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr. And so this year, after we finish the fast of Ramadan, we will have two holidays for the Salah festivities,” President Mahama stated.
President Mahama also outlined plans to fulfill other campaign promises, including reducing Hajj fares, recruiting more Arabic teachers, and providing scholarships to Muslim students in deprived communities.
“I have formed a five-member Hajj taskforce, led by our longest-serving MP, Collins Dauda, and they’ll be leaving for the Holy Land on Monday to participate in the Hajj conference. One of the tasks I have given them is to make arrangements to bring Hajj fares as low as possible so that as many Muslims as possible can perform the pilgrimage,” he announced.
“We also promised to train and recruit more Arabic teachers for our Islamic schools. Additionally, we will establish the Soyayya Fund, a microcredit scheme to support mothers, fathers, and families in deprived Muslim communities,” President Mahama added.
In a related statement, President Mahama urged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to refrain from attacking state institutions, highlighting the importance of national unity and respect for democratic structures.
The President’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises demonstrates his dedication to the Muslim community and his efforts to improve the lives of Muslims in Ghana. With the upcoming changes to the Public Holidays Act and the implementation of various initiatives, it is evident that President Mahama is working towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for Muslims in the country.
