Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer for the 2028 election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has joined the Jallo fraternity and hundreds of Muslims in Prang in the Bono East Region to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Maulid celebration of the eminent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Tijani.

Dr. Bawumia attended the anniversary celebration on Saturday night, joining Islamic clerics, traditional leaders, members of the Tijaniyya Muslim community, residents and other worshippers who converged on Prang for the milestone religious gathering.

Reflecting on the occasion, Dr. Bawumia described his participation as a distinct honour and praised the founders and successive organisers for sustaining the Maulid for five decades.

According to the former Vice President, what began as a relatively modest community religious gathering about 50 years ago has developed into one of the recognisable Islamic events, attracting Muslims and religious leaders beyond the immediate Prang community.

“Last night, I had the distinct honour of joining the Jallo fraternity and fellow Muslims in Prang, Bono East Region, for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Maulid of the Eminent Sheikh Ahmad Tijani,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He said the transformation of the gathering over the past five decades demonstrates the commitment of its organisers and followers to preserving its religious and social significance.

Dr. Bawumia noted that beyond commemorating the life and teachings associated with Sheikh Ahmad Tijani, the annual gathering has become an important platform for spiritual guidance, unity and service to humanity.

“What began as a modest community gathering five decades ago has today grown into one of the most recognizable Islamic events in our country — dedicated to spiritual guidance, advancing unity, and promoting service to humanity,” he said.

The NPP flagbearer consequently congratulated the founding fathers whose efforts established the celebration and acknowledged the contributions of generations of organisers, Islamic scholars, community leaders and worshippers who have helped sustain the event.

He also commended all those who have contributed in various capacities toward transforming the Maulid into what he described as an impactful national Islamic gathering.

“Congratulations to the founding fathers of this Maulid, and to all who have played various roles in sustaining it and making it the impactful gathering it is today,” Dr. Bawumia added.

The Prang engagement comes as Dr. Bawumia continues to maintain close relations with religious and faith-based organisations across the country.

Throughout his years in public service and political life, the former Vice President has regularly participated in major Muslim and Christian programmes while advocating peaceful coexistence among Ghana’s different religious communities.

Since his election as the NPP’s 2028 Presidential Candidate earlier this year, Dr. Bawumia has also intensified engagements with religious organisations as part of broader consultations on national development, peace and social cohesion.

He has held discussions with the Christian Council of Ghana and other faith-based institutions, repeatedly emphasizing the important role religious organisations play in providing a moral compass for society, promoting peaceful coexistence and complementing the state in education, health and other areas of national development.

Dr. Bawumia, himself a Muslim, has over the years also used his participation in Christian and Islamic gatherings to advocate religious tolerance, often pointing to the peaceful coexistence between Christians, Muslims and adherents of traditional religions as a national asset that must be protected.