This year, 50 of such students in the various universities in the country received bursary from the fund.  

The Chief Executive Officer of the Zakat Fund, Sheikh Arimiyao Shaibu, disclosed this at the launch of an Interpay Platform for the Zakat Fund.

The Interpay Platform, created by Fundraising Africa, a local Information Technology (IT) company, allows Muslims across the country to go online, pay either two-and-half per cent of their annual salary as Zakat or contribute any amount as sadaqa (charity) into the fund.

A person can also pay through a Visa Card, Ghana Link or any of the mobile phone networks, such as the MTN, Vodafone, Airtel and Tigo.

The Zakat Fund was launched in 2010 by the Muslim Caucus of Parliament in collaboration with the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and other Imams from the various Muslim sects in Ghana to enable Muslims in the public and private sectors in the country to observe the third pillar of Islam - Zakat, in fulfilment of their faith in Allah.

Importance

Sheikh Shaibu said many Muslim students were in need of financial support to pay their fees and also buy books.

Besides, he said, some widows also required support for the upkeep of their children.

He added that Zakat was a religious obligation for wealthy Muslims to ease the suffering of needy Muslims.

Interpay  platform

Sheikh Shaibu observed that even though “there are many Muslims desirous of paying the Zakat, they cannot do so because of the unavailability of a structured system for collection.”

He, therefore, said the Interpay Platform would provide willing Muslims with an opportunity to pay their Zakat and sadaqa.

He added that with the launch of the platform, it was expected that the current subscriber base would be increased from 500 to 1,000 next year.

He further noted that personnel of the police service were the highest contributors to the fund.