A Muslim advocacy group, Zongo Youth Movement, has issued a stern warning to New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful Kennedy Agyapong, demanding that he stay away from mosques, Muslim gatherings, and Zongo communities in the course of his campaign.
The group expressed outrage over recent remarks by Dr. Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and a prominent supporter of Agyapong’s flagbearer ambitions. Dr. Amoah is reported to have suggested that Ghanaians voted against the NPP in the 2024 general elections because of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s Islamic faith, further claiming that “Ghanaians hardly vote for Muslims.”
In a statement signed by Chairman Alhaji Adams Peacemann and PRO Abdullahi Ali, the group described Dr. Amoah’s comments as “divisive,” “unfortunate,” and a distortion of Ghana’s political and religious landscape.
“We are shocked and disappointed by the recent comments made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s team member Dr. Stephen Amoah, suggesting that Ghanaians hardly vote for Muslims,” the statement read. “We find this comment not only divisive but also unfortunate.”
The group condemned the remarks in no uncertain terms and called on all party members, delegates, and the general public to reject what they describe as a dangerous narrative.
“We condemn this comment in its entirety and call on all party members, delegates and Ghanaians to reject such divisive rhetoric, as it does not represent the core values and ethics of the New Patriotic Party,” the statement continued.
According to the group, the NPP’s political history does not support Dr. Amoah’s assertions. They noted that the party had successfully fielded Muslim Vice Presidential candidates on two occasions during the Fourth Republic and received massive support from the Ghanaian electorate.
“There is no basis to support Dr. Amoah’s negative comments. In fact, during the Fourth Republic, the NPP has had a Muslim Vice President on two occasions when the party was in government, and Ghanaians voted massively for the party both times,” the group noted, calling Dr. Amoah’s claims “unfounded and misleading.”
The group emphasized that religious harmony remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s national identity, warning that such statements threaten the long-standing unity between Muslims and Christians.
“It is a fundamental aspect of Ghanaian society that Muslims and Christians have co-existed in love and harmony, and politics has never divided Ghanaians on religious lines,” the statement said.
Citing the need to protect the dignity of Muslim communities and to resist religious division in politics, the group has issued a direct warning to Kennedy Agyapong and his campaign team.
“We therefore warn Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and his team not to enter any Mosque, Muslim or Zongo Community with his campaign. He should stay away from all Muslim or Zongo activities and do his campaign elsewhere,” the group declared.
They further called on Muslim communities across the country to deny Agyapong and his team access to religious and social platforms unless a public apology is rendered.
“We are by this release, calling on all Muslims and Zongo communities to refuse him entry into any mosque, social gatherings or get anywhere closer to any forms of Muslim/Zongo activities with his campaign,” the statement added.
The group concluded by demanding an unqualified apology from both Kennedy Agyapong and Dr. Amoah.
“We call on Honourable Kennedy to unreservedly apologize for this unsavory comment of his team member and must well instruct Dr. Stephen Amoah to also unequivocally apologize without any strings attached.”
