2024 National Maulid: Bawumia preaches tolerance to preserve national peace and harmony

The Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on his fellow Muslims to draw lessons from the noble life of the Prophet Muhammad, encouraging them to strengthen their relationship with God and make positive impacts on humanity.

Addressing thousands of Muslims on Saturday night (October 6, 2024), as the Special Guest at the annual National Maulid celebration in Accra, organized by the National Chief Imam to mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad, Dr. Bawumia urged participants to see the event as more than just a celebration.

"As we exalt the Prophet and celebrate his birth tonight, it is very important for all of us not to make tonight a mere celebration of his birth," Dr. Bawumia said. "More importantly, the celebration should remind us of what his birth and life mean to us, and how they can positively impact our lives as Muslims, both in our relationship with our Maker and with humanity."

He further reflected on the teachings of the Prophet, saying, "A special night like this should be a perfect time to reflect on the teachings and values of the Prophet, to continuously guide us in our own lives and relationship with Allah and our community. As always, we are privileged to have in our midst outstanding scholars who will take us through many life lessons of the Prophet."

Dr. Bawumia also dedicated a significant portion of his address to promoting peace and harmony in Ghana, urging Muslims to emulate the Prophet by being "peaceful, tolerant, and harmonious."

"As our nation goes to the polls in December to elect a new President, some important values of the Prophet we should all uphold are his remarkable traits of being extremely peaceful, harmonious, and tolerant, in order to preserve the peace and tranquility Allah has blessed our country with," he said.

He added, "Indeed, peace is a fundamental principle in Islam, and upholding and promoting our peaceful and harmonious existence as a people, regardless of ethnic, religious, or political backgrounds, is the responsibility of all of us."

The event was attended by thousands of Muslims from across the country, and the National Chief Imam hosted several dignitaries from the sub-region.