Dr Darko expressed the readiness of the Authority to work with the Muslim Body if all the needed protocols were established to ensure smooth working relationship, and urged the NMCG to ensure that similar relationship was established with the Standards Board as the Halal certification also borders on Standards.
The General Secretary of the NMCG, Alhaji Inusah Mohammed, told the Ghanaian Times that the Islamic organisation was going through the legal process to acquire the authority to issue Halal certification and also be part of the global Halal body.
The Islamic dietary law specifically requires that all food and beverages are considered Halal unless otherwise stated as forbidden.
These laws guide Muslims to identify what foods are Halal in accordance with the Islamic teachings.
The officials of the NMCG presented to the authority a Certificate of Incorporation and the DEED of the NMCG as the official mouthpiece of Muslims in Ghana.
Rear Admiral (retd) Mohammed Muniru Tahir, a member of the management board of NMCG, led the discussions with the officials of the FDA, and presented a copy of the NMCG Certificate of Incorporation and DEED to the Chief Executive of the FDA, Dr Delese Mimi Darko.
The NMCG intends to establish an international framework to provide Halal standards and to issue certification and provide logo for products labeled as Halal in Ghana to meet Muslims consumer market.
In Islam food and drinks must be devoid of pork, alcohol and intoxicants, harmful ingredients, or unhygienic elements that the Islamic teachings deem harmful to the human body.
The teaching of Islam specify that animals slaughtered for consumption must meet the Islamic law and standard referred to as Zabihah, considered to be humane, purest and decent manner to slaughter animal for consumption.
Also present at the meeting were Isahaah Umar, Hajia Humu Zakaria, Mohammed Tamim, all members of the NMCG and Abdul Samed Abdulai, Administrator.
