(6 Feb 2017) LEAD IN:
The biggest mosque in west Africa is under construction in Ghana.
The Turkish style building is being built alongside a cultural centre and school for Muslim students in Accra.
STORY-LINE:
Even from a distance you can't miss the vast scale of the new Turkish style mosque on the Accra Furgan complex.
It's currently under construction in the Kanda neighbourhood, which is one of the three main Muslim communities of Accra.
It will be known as the National Mosque of Ghana and become a major gathering point for Muslims throughout the country once it's completed.
It's part of a complex being created by the Human Development Association International (HUDAI) which will also house the National Chief Iman's villa, a library, a cultural centre and a school for Muslim students complete with dormitories.
As Awal Lawal, Assistant General Coordinator of HUDAI explains, despite being built in Ghana, the influence and materials for the mosque are being provided by another Middle Eastern country:
"All the building materials are coming from Turkey, they were exported from Turkey. And the architect, the engineers, the constructors they are all coming from Turkey because Ghana, we are not up to this, such level," he says.
The Turkish Religious Affairs Ministry is helping HUDAI directly along with a number of other sponsors and the overall cost of the project is expected to reach 12 million US dollars.
After five years of construction the mosque is expected expected to open during the holy month of Ramadan at the end of May 2017. It will be the biggest mosque in west Africa.
"We are anticipating by the end of May, as we enter Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims, the mosque, only the mosque will commission for prayers. Now by the end of July the entire complex will be commissioned," says Lawal.
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