Dr Mustapha Abdul Hamid, an aspiring First National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged Ghanaians to evaluate Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia based on his proven governance track record and professional competence rather than his religious background.
Delivering the keynote address at the Danquah Institute’s 2026 Liberty Lecture at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Dr Hamid strongly dismissed lingering claims of an “Islamisation agenda” in Ghanaian politics, asserting that Dr Bawumia seeks to serve the nation as a leader for all, not to advance a religious platform.
Addressing the theme “One Nation, Many Faiths: Emerging Threats to Religious Tolerance in Ghana,” Dr Hamid noted that public discussions around policies such as interest-free banking or the introduction of Arabic options in basic schools have sometimes been unfairly distorted to incite fear.
“If an agenda to Islamise Ghana existed, the candidacy of Mahamudu Bawumia would have been its catalyst, and Muslims across the country would have rallied strictly along faith lines,” Dr Hamid stated. “Instead, voting patterns clearly show that Ghanaians—Muslims included—make political choices grounded in national interest, performance, and leadership quality rather than sectarian identity.”
Dr Hamid cited election outcomes in several Muslim-majority constituencies across the country to demonstrate that religious identity does not dictate democratic choices in Ghana. He emphasized that the nation’s secular foundation and long-standing tradition of interfaith harmony remain robust safeguards against religious factionalism.
He cautioned political actors and commentary figures against exploiting religious sensitivities for short-term partisan gains, warning that narrative shifts aimed at stoking division threaten the social fabric that has made Ghana a beacon of peaceful coexistence in the sub-region.
Dr Hamid concluded by calling on the electorate to look past religious labeling and focus on the substantive policy solutions, economic vision, and leadership competence that candidates bring to the public square.