W/N CRIES FOR ISLAMIC SHS, UNIVERSITY – IMAM RAHMAN LEADS CAMPAIGN
The Western North Region is making a passionate appeal for the establishment of an Islamic Senior High School and an Islamic university, with its Regional Chief Imam Coordinator, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Halidu, leading the charge. He described the absence of such institutions in the region as a grave injustice to the Muslim population.
Alhaji Rahman, in a fiery address to stakeholders and the media, lamented that despite the increasing Muslim population in the region, there is no single Islamic-based second-cycle or tertiary institution. “We are being left behind in our own country. Is Western North not part of Ghana?” he questioned.
According to him, other regions such as Ashanti, Eastern, Northern, and Greater Accra have benefited from both public and private Islamic schools and universities, but Western North continues to be overlooked. He warned that the neglect could have long-term consequences on the spiritual and educational development of Muslim youth in the region.
“The youth are growing up without proper religious and academic guidance,” he said. “Without Islamic-based education, we risk raising a generation disconnected from both knowledge and faith. That is a national security concern waiting to explode,” Alhaji Rahman cautioned.
He called on the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Zongo Development Fund, and other stakeholders to immediately prioritize the region in their infrastructure planning. “We don’t want promises. We want foundations dug, classrooms built, and schools commissioned,” he emphasized.
Alhaji Rahman also appealed to Muslim philanthropists, NGOs, and international donors to support the establishment of Islamic educational institutions in the region. He stressed that development is not only the responsibility of government but a collective duty. “If each person plays their part, Western North can rise,” he said.
The Imam Coordinator indicated that the demand is not rooted in religious favoritism, but in equal access and inclusion. “We’re not asking for more than others. We’re asking for what is due us,” he explained. He insisted that education must be tailored to respect and support cultural and religious identity, especially in underserved regions.
He pointed out that many brilliant Muslim students in Western North either travel long distances to access Islamic education or drop out entirely because their needs are not met locally. “Why must our children be migrants in search of basic education?” he asked. “It’s unfair, and it must stop.”
Alhaji Rahman further emphasized that the absence of Islamic educational facilities has widened the gap between Muslim communities and opportunities. He warned that failing to act now could have political, social, and economic implications in the near future. “When people feel neglected, they lose faith in leadership,” he said.
He concluded by announcing plans to petition the Office of the President, National Chief Imam, Parliament, and other bodies to draw national attention to the situation. “This is not a one-man campaign. It is a regional cry. We are united and we will not rest until the Islamic SHS and university are established in Western North,” he declared.
