A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has said the NDC will not base its campaign along religious lines.

His comments come in response to a recent statement by the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin, who encouraged Muslims to vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia based on shared religious identity.

Mr Gbande stated that it is very dangerous to draw religion and ethnicity into the political domain.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, September 10, he said, “Ghana has a history of a tolerant religious establishment. So if we begin to do this, we will be dividing homes and families and setting this country up for a major conflict. What the Majority Leader said is not only condemnable but also dangerous. It sets the nation on the [Path] of religious rivalry.”

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According to him, the NDC has a consistent track record of prioritising nation-building and bridging social gaps.

“Haruna Iddrisu was in Tamale over the weekend to launch the campaign. He is one of the pillars of our northern politics. He didn’t get there because he was a Christian or a Muslim. Honourable Muntaka also was not appointed as sports minister because he was Muslim or Christian. It was basically on issues of competence and decision of leadership.”

“Leaders will come, leaders will go. So the attempt to throw in religious division by Afenyo Markin, into the NDC is not just demonic but also serialised along what we call politicians who make loose talks.

Mr Gbande called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on their responsibilities of advancing societal development and addressing national challenges.

He urged the NPP to focus on real development and avoid making excuses for their shortcomings.

“The NPP is in power. They should lift society, they should develop society. They should build the nation and stop finding excuses for their laziness, incompetence and ignorance,” he said.