With an emphasis on culturally sensitive facilities and enhanced health infrastructure, National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his dedication to meeting the special health and infrastructure needs of Ghana’s Zongo people.
Mahama described his intentions to create specialized facilities for handling the remains of departed Muslims in compliance with Islamic burial procedures and customs during his remarks at the Ghana National Muslims Conference concluding ceremony in Accra on Sunday, October 27.
Mahama emphasized that this program is an extension of his pledge made in 2020 to give Muslim communities’ needs and dignity top priority in his national development strategy.
Mahama revealed intentions to improve health services in Zongo areas by providing local health centers with state-of-the-art medical infrastructure and resources, in addition to the specialized mortuary facilities.
In order to meet halal regulations and World Health Organization (WHO) standards, he noted, his administration will work with the business sector to construct new abattoirs and renovate existing ones.
He pointed out that rehabilitation programs targeted at guaranteeing hygienic, effective, and religiously compliant meat processing would be beneficial for abattoirs in areas like Tulaku.
Mahama claims that by guaranteeing that meat processing conforms with religious requirements, this emphasis on halal standards will help not only Zongo inhabitants but also Ghana’s greater Muslim community, improving food security and public health standards.
“We will follow our promise in 2020 to establish specialised places for the handling of bodies of Muslims who pass away in order that they are handled according to Islamic rights.
“We will also equip health facilities in Muslim communities with relevant health infrastructure and partner with the private sector to build new abattoirs in communities such as Tulaku and rehabilitate existing abattoirs to conform with World Health Organization standards and introduce halal standards in terms of handling meat and meat products.”
