The North East Regional Zongo Caucus Coordinator of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Tahiru Rafiu has alleged that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is implementing a deliberate policy targeted at denying members of the Fulani Community in the region of getting registered for the Ghana Card.
Speaking at the maiden edition of Conference of Zongo Caucus Coordinators held at Nalerugu the capital of North Regional Region, Alhaji Rafiu said: “Officials of the NIA frustrated sections of the Fulanis in this region and other parts of the country during the Ghana Card registration.”
According to him, “Majority of the Fulanis with proof of citizenship were turned away by NIA officials at some notable registration centres.”
Touting NDC’s commitment to the needs and development of the Zongo communities across the country he said to him “NDC is Zongo and Zongo is the NDC”.
He noted that “NDC helped in establishing the office of the National Chief Imam and gave it the prominence it deserves and elevated the office of the Chief Imam from Prominence to Eminence.”
“It was under NDC, that laws were enacted to give Muslims two holidays to celebrate the Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha.
The NDC government absorbed the Islamic Education Unit into Ghana Education Service (GES)
The NDC government created Arabic Teacher module under the then Youth Employment Programme.” – he touted
“The successes chalked under the NDC government by building the Hajj Village to accommodate pilgrims from outside Accra and facilitate their journey, the transformation of the Tamale Airport into an international airport which made it easy for Muslim brothers and sisters to travel to Hajj with ease, directly from Tamale.” – he added
The Conference which had the National Secretary for the Zongo Caucus, Alhaji Nuru Hamidan as the Special Guest of Honor saw the inauguration of the constituency Zongo caucus committees.
Read his full speech:
SPEECH DELIVERED BY ALHAJI TAHIRU RAFIU THE NDC REGIONAL ZONGO CAUCUS COORDINATOR FOR THE NORTHEAST REGION DURING THE MAIDEN CONFERENCE OF ZONGO CAUCUS COORDINATORS IN NORTH EAST REGION
Mr. Chairman, National Zongo Caucus Secretary, Hon Alhaji Nuru Hamidan, National Zongo Caucus Executive member, Hon Alhaji Salu Kabore, Former National Zongo Caucus Communication member, Alhaji Alhassan, Northern Regional Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Hajia Jamila, Upper East Regional Communication Officer, Alhaji Tijani Saeed, Regional Executives present, CEO of JA Bless Company, Mr Sulemana, my dynamic Constituency Zongo Caucus Coordinators, traditional rulers, the Clergy, friends from the media, all protocol observed, ladies and gentlemen. (Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Traditional rulers, the Clergy, friends from the media, all protocols observed, ladies and gentlemen).
As salaamu alaikum! I wish to welcome you all to this maiden Conference of Zongo Caucus coordinators in the North East Region, on the theme “consolidating North East votes, the role of zongos’’. Today’s conference marks the beginning of our journey to victory 2020.
Mr Chairman NDC is Zongo and Zongo is NDC.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), is a party of a kind, which is an embodiment of Zongo communities, both home and abroad and it is this spirit that informs the social democratic system of the NDC and influences the party’s policies.
Mr Chairman, the National Zongo Caucus Secretary, ladies and gentlemen. I want to touch on the historical achievements of the NDC in fortifying the respect for Islam in Ghana
NDC helped in establishing the office of the National Chief Imam and gave it the prominence it deserves.
It was under NDC, that laws were enacted to give Muslims two holidays to celebrate the Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha.
The party also elevated the office of the Chief Imam from Prominence to Eminence. So this what I mean by “NDC is Zongo and Zongo is the NDC”.
The NDC government absorbed the Islamic Education Unit into Ghana Education Service (GES)
The NDC government created Arabic Teacher module under the then Youth Employment Programme.
The successes chalked under the NDC government by building the Hajj Village to accommodate pilgrims from outside Accra and facilitate their journey, the transformation of the Tamale Airport into an international airport which made it easy for Muslim brothers and sisters to travel to Hajj with ease, directly from Tamale.
Over 90 per cent of Universities in Ghana today, including major hospitals, markets as well as large number of secondary schools across the country were built under NDC government.
Social amenity projects such as the expansion of electrification to rural areas, the extension of the largest water project to a major part of the country which was executed under NDC.
Mr Chairma, these achievements are not enough, the party will do more to ensure that, Zongos and the inner city communities get their fair share of the national cake.
Mr Chairman, Zongo Caucus has taken note of deliberate policy by National Identification Authority denying our Fulani community the opportunity of being registered for the Ghana Card. Officials of the NIA frustrated sections of the Fulanis in this region and other parts of the country during the Ghana Card registration. Majority of the Fulanis with proof of citizenship were turned away by NIA officials at some notable registration centres.
Mr Chairman, Zongo Caucus has taken note of the concerns, Insha Allah (God Willing) come 2021, the new NDC government will resolve those concerns.
Mr Chairman, Zongo Caucus again has taken note of some reckless statements by appointees of President Akufo Addo, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister for Works and Housing in March this year ‘Stated that Nima will be flushing toilets for the first time”
The former Zongo Minister, Dr Mustapha Hamid in November 2018 said the government will train Zongo women in waakyie and sobolo making`
Again the former Zongo Minister, Dr Mustapha Hamid in February 2019 said the Zongo ministry is going to introduce Zongo Football league. According to him, the project will transform the lives of the zongos. Our women will be able to sell pure water, orange and kulikuli which will economically empower them.
The former deputy Agric minister in 2017 on the Fall Army Worm “the people of the North are difficult people, I lived with them for 27yrs, and I know them. This is just to take money from the government”
The Agric Minister, Owusu Afriyie Akoto last month stated that modern roofs, cement buildings now in the north thanks to Planting for food and jobs.
Mr Chairman the Akufo Addo led administration has failed the people of Ghana, The NDC is now seen as the alternative to save Ghana from the incompetent and reckless NPP government.
Mr Chairman let me end my speech by giving a precise answer to Dr Bawumia’s legacy challenge thrown at President John Dramani Mahama even though my able Regional Communication Communication Officer Comrade Zak Villa did justice to it at Might FM in Savelugu.
Dr Bawumia should remember that no pilgrim from the five northern regions travel to Accra for Mecca. Tamale international airport is the legacy of H.E John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Chairman, let me use this opportunity to congratulate our national zongo caucus secretary, Hon Alhaji Nuru Hamidan for graduating with yet another Masters of Arts in Conflict and peace Security at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre, Accra.
Mr Chairman, let me again congratulate our zongo caucus coordinator for walewale constituency for joining the table of men. For those of you who are not aware, Hon Hafiz last week Saturday got married to three beautiful ladies on the same day.
Long live Zongo Caucus
Long live NDC
Long live Ghana.
Thank you all.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com
