A former aide to Nana Akufo-Addo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has defended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s comments about a perceived religious imbalance at the presidency, explaining that he was simply promoting religious inclusiveness.
Mr. Jinapor also intimated that the “propagandist slants” put on Dr. Bawumia’s comment were acts of mischief coming on the heels of Dzifa Attivor’s infamous comment which he said were “clearly ethnocentric.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”CPfFkABxuOiMwvoZrtTCCtiWvb9MMHca”]In Dr. Bawumia’s view, the seat of government is occupied by persons who are from the Christian fraternity which to him does not create a needed balance within the highest political positions in Ghana.
The New Patriotic Party presidential running mate also suggested that when the President is a Christian, his Vice should be a Muslim as shown by his party over the years to create a religious balance.
Speaking on The Big Issue, Mr. Jinapor supported Dr. Bawumia’s sentiments saying such an arrangement ensured that religious cohesiveness and inclusiveness improves in political circles.
“He was actually preaching unity and inclusiveness… he was talking about political arrangement and mechanisms which will ensure that the unity, cohesiveness and inclusiveness of our country is taken to another level.”
Mr. Jinapor further explained that there was a distinction between the NPP running mate’s comments and that of Dzifa Attivor’s ethnocentric comments.
“If I say vote for me because I am a member of tribe A or tribe B or a member of this religion it’s completely different from saying we should organize our political lives, organize our government in such a way that it is inclusive and everybody feels part of it.”
He acknowledged that such an arrangement was not mandatory but instead desirable because different shades of opinion would be represented.
“It is not mandatory that it should always be a Christian and a Muslim; but it is desirable and because it is desirable, the NPP has tried to ensure that all shades of opinion are represented.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana