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President John Mahama has announced that a major national project to change the face of development in the Zongo communities is to take off soon. The project, targeted at improving the living conditions of the people in the Zongo communities, is to be undertaken in collaboration with the Brazilian government. It forms part of the Urban Renewal Project and it will see massive development in roads, drains, housing, among others, in the Zongo communities. President Mahama made this known when the Council of Muslim Chiefs, led by the National Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, called on him at the Flagstaff House yesterday. The Chief Imam and his entourage were at the Flagstaff House to introduce the newly elected executive of the council to the President. They also used the opportunity to present to the President an interim report on an intra-religious conflict that arose between the Islamic sects of Alsunna and Tijaniya at Afienya recently. Objective of project President Mahama explained that the urban renewal project was aimed at improving the Zongos. He underscored the need for the skills of Zongo youth to be developed and said the government would liaise with the Council of Muslim Chiefs to come up with various skills and training programmes for them. The President noted that social tension was sometimes caused by unemployment and said that was why the government was keen on tackling the issue with utmost importance. He announced that part of the $100 million grant from the United Arab Emirates under the Abu Dhabi Development Fund would go into the construction of the Nima drains. He urged residents of Muslim communities to endeavour to live in peace. Intra-religious conflict report Touching on the interim report on the conflict, President Mahama commended the Chief Imam and the other leaders for preventing what could have been a nasty development. He said the Muslim community must continue to show brotherliness to one another, in line with Islamic teachings. He stated that without peace, no meaningful development could take place and cautioned the public not to take the peace of the country for granted. Chief Imam�s Spokesman Sheikh Gado, the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, stated that but for the timely intervention of the National Security and the police, the tension between the two Muslim sects at Afienya could have degenerated into violence. He said the matter was now before court and the two sects had signed an undertaking to live in peace. Sheikh Gado commended the President for the interest shown in the affairs of the Muslim community.