The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the National Peace Council and the Ghana Christian Council have been “lackadaisical” in their move to condemn New Patriotic Party (NPP) vice presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s religiously bias comment.

Also, they are surprised that the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has still not come out to condemn the divisive comment of his running mate. 

Speaking on Joy News' Majority Caucus political program, host, Ali Dawud, a legal practitioner, said the two Councils “have been too quiet for my liking, I don’t know what they are waiting for.”

Ali Dawud, who is also a member of the governing party’s communication team added that the statement ought to be condemned without any hesitation.

A panelist on the show, Prince Kassim Alubankudi, also a member of the communication team of the NDC said, “they [the two Councils] must ask him [Bawumia] to retract and apologize to the good people of Ghana. They are quick to ask other people to retract and apologize for trying to divide this country into ethnic lines.”

The host and panelist expressed surprise in the swiftness the two Councils condemned former Transport Minister, Madam Dzifa Attivor’s very “innocuous” statement.

Mr. Dawud said if Bawumia’s strategy is to say that the NPP have a Muslim running mate then it may not work because Ghana has already witnessed a vice-president in the late Aliu Mahama.

“Whatever Bawumia wants to bring on board, we have been served that bitter pill in the past. I remember the embarrassment meted out to Aliu Mahama when he drove all the way from the Castle, leaving important state function, came to the NPP headquarters to be vetted only to meet an empty vetting room,” Dawud said.

He warned this is the treatment the NPP sees fit to a vice president and not a running mate. 

He said Bawumia fails to learn from history and questioned the logic behind saying Muslims must be considered for office merely based on their religion.

“If the argument is that, I am a Muslim running mate so vote for me then it presupposes that Muslims are unmeritorious of any position except for their religious persuasion. As a Muslim I find that unfortunate and very offensive” Mr. Dawud said.

He also questioned if Dr. Bawumia's suggesting that where a Christian parliamentary candidate is running against a Muslim, the people should ignore the NPP candidate and vote for the Muslim regardless of his/her party.

Aspiring parliamentarian for Ablekuma, Alhaji Halidu Haruna, also questions the NPP’s love for Muslim when they keep challenging their registration in the ongoing Limited Biometric Registration exercise calling them foreigners.

“The Zamarima in my area are referred to as non-Ghanaians meanwhile, there is Fusseini Maiga, a former chairman of the Nasara Club of the NPP, who is a Zabarima,” said Alhaji Haruna.

The NDC Communicators said they are not surprised by the NPP’s picking and choosing who they want to associate with when it is convenient for them.

The host recounted, the time the NPP went to congress in 2007 in Legon and Aliu Mahama was the most qualified, highest ranking NPP leader and longest serving vice president, but he was not elected.

"If the NPP wanted a Muslim, why did they not vote for him then, " one of the panelists said.

The panel called the idea by Bawumia for Muslims to play second fiddle to anyone ridiculous, laughable and dangerous. They took offense with his idea which they say limits Muslims.

M. Dawud said, "Muslims are very discerning and I think they know better, you just don't bring tokenism within the Islamic community and think that you can get away with it.  People can read in between the line. Muslims want economic policies alternatives, sound debate based on which they will make an informed decision and choices subsequently. Merely calling yourself Muslim without really believing in the tenets of Islam is not eh way to go."