Mustapha Hamid refutes claims of Bawumia's 'Islamization' agenda if elected president

Speaking at the Danquah Institute’s Liberty Lecture in Accra on August 25, 2026, Dr. Abdul-Hamid urged Ghanaians to evaluate Dr. Bawumia based on his competence and tolerance towards all religious groups, rather than viewing him as an 'Islamic project.' He emphasized that Dr. Bawumia seeks to serve the nation and does not have an Islamic agenda. Dr. Abdul-Hamid stated that suggestions of a Bawumia presidency leading to an Islamic state are false and disrespectful to Ghana's constitution, history, and the intelligence of its citizens.

The former information minister and Islamic scholar also highlighted that political decisions in Ghana have generally not been driven by religion, advising religious leaders to avoid becoming political recruiters. He called on Ghanaians to prioritize competence in their assessment of political leaders and to reject attempts to create national disunity through religious divisions. These comments come amidst public discussions regarding the proposed introduction of Arabic as an optional subject in basic schools and interest-free banking, which some have characterized as steps toward Islamization.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid and other speakers have rejected these characterizations, framing the initiatives in educational an