Accra, Ghana, November 21, 2019//-No government in the 4th Republic contributed a pesewa to the construction of the Ghana National Mosque in Kawukudi, according to communication from the Office of the National Chief Imam.
The National Mosque located in Accra has been under construction since 2012. The land in Kawukudi (Kawokudi) which was formerly a football field was allocated to Muslims after an old mosque in Accra Central was demolished to give way for the construction of Rawlings Park.
Despite stories making the rounds about supposed government of Ghana participation in the construction, the truth is that the Turkish HUDAI Foundation footed the entire bill.
The Turkish foundation mobilised funds in Turkey with which it started construction on the new site.
The current works is being carried out by the Turkish HUDAI, a well established Turkish NGO that mobilized all the funds for the Ghana National Mosque at Kanda in Turkey and nowhere else for the sake of emphasis.
ONCI on National Mosque in Kawukudi.
Charging political parties with hypocrisy, the official page of ONCI revealed the government failed to waive duties on imported building materials to be used in the construction.
This is despite its promise to do same. Consequently, the Turkish HUDAI Foundation had to foot an additional $1 million in duties and taxes alone.
Also, promises were made by government and some Muslims to clear the debris that piled up on site during construction. Three years later, the rubble was still piled on site.
It took another Turkish intervention to remove the debris so construction could continue.
The Ghana National Mosque is 98% complete and will be handed over to the National Chief Imam by the end of January 2020.
The mosque will have a 10,000 prayer capacity as well as an office and residence for the National Chief Imam. There will also be a school complex, conference room, and a spacious car park.
Visitors will be able to access the mosque in Kawukudi from three entrances when it finally opens in 2020. It’ll be a national edifice that redefines what a mosque is meant to be.
zongorepublic.com
