Located at Kanda (Kawukudi) in Accra, the National Mosque Complex of Ghana, which is the 2nd largest of its kind in the West African Region, has been inaugurated with the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, leading the first official Jummah prayers from the imposing structure.
The ceremony was attended by high-profile personalities such as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice-President of Ghana, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum and Issoufou Mahamadou the sitting and former Presidents of Niger respectively, and Professor Dr. Ali Ebras, the President of the Directorate of the Religious Affairs of Turkey, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the president of the Republic of Ghana.
An overview of the edifice
The National Mosque Complex of Ghana, whose construction was funded by the Turkish Hudayi Foundation in Accra with the support of the Turkish government to the tune of US$ 10M, is built in an Ottoman revival style with four signature spires towering about 65m above the ground. It is believed to be a replica of the Blue Mosque, located in the Turkish capital, Istanbul.
It (the National Mosque Complex of Ghana) is made of Carrara marble exterior fittings. The upper levels of its interior are dominated by blue paints, with stained glass windows design while the floors are covered with carpets. The inner decorations are made of hand-drawn calligraphic verses of the Quran while the exterior feature is arranged with a cascade of domes around the main dome.
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The mosque has a mihrab made from sculptured marbles, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it.
The capacity and features of the mosque
Built on a 42-acre piece of land, the National Mosque Complex of Ghana has within it a 15,000 seater-capacity Grand National Mosque, school, library, dormitories, workers and guest residences, a clinic with pharmacy, Islamic morgue and office complexes for both the project developer (the National Chief Imam) and the project managers, Diyanet, GANADER and HUDAI.
It is the second-largest mosque in West Africa after the 30,000-capacity Massalikoul Djinane mosque in Dakar, Senegal.
