THE USA ZANGO Caucus has issued a stinging rebuke of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what it calls a “deeply regrettable” and “disrespectful” opposition to Ghana’s newly passed Muslim Public Holidays Bill — a historic legislation initiated and delivered under President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a press statement released from the Bronx, New York, and signed by its coordinator, Sheikh Abdul Salaam Zeebah, the USA Zango Caucus described the bill as a long-overdue recognition of Ghana’s vibrant Muslim population and a bold step toward religious equity and national unity.
“This landmark bill is not just symbolic,” the statement read. “It represents decades of yearning for inclusion and respect. To see it opposed by the NPP, especially through the voice of Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is profoundly disappointing.”
Afenyo-Markin, speaking in Parliament, had raised concerns about the economic implications of adding more public holidays and suggested it might open a “floodgate” of similar demands. But the Caucus dismissed those concerns as “tone-deaf” and indicative of a “troubling disregard” for the rights of Muslims in Ghana’s pluralistic society.
“Recognizing Islamic holidays does not erode Christian values. It reinforces Ghana’s foundation as a secular, inclusive democracy,” the statement stressed.
The USA Zango Caucus praised the NDC and H.E. John Mahama for delivering on their promise and showing “courage and conviction” in legislating for all faiths. It said the law affirms that Muslims are not an afterthought in Ghana’s progress but “central contributors to its story.”
Calling the NPP’s resistance a “missed opportunity for unity,” the group urged the party’s leadership to “take corrective steps” and reconsider its approach toward religious minorities.
“We in the diaspora see every day how multicultural societies thrive when all faiths are respected in law and practice,” Sheikh Zeebah added.
The Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to justice and inclusive governance and pledged to continue advocating for all Ghanaian communities at home and abroad.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
