Nation of Islam officials and distinguished guests at the African-African American Summit in Accra, Ghana, will break ground for construction of a Nation of Islam mosque/school and training center May 18.

The 10 a.m. historic event will take place during the summit that is expected to draw more than 1,000 people from the United States at New Amanfrom on Weija Lake where the structure will be built.

Nation of Islam First Lady Khadijah Farrakhan and Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad will conduct the ceremony. Mother Khadijah is heading up a Nation of Islam delegation to Accra that will participate in the summit.

Other members of the delegation are Mustapha Farrakhan, asst. supreme captain of the Nation of Islam and a son of Min. Farrakhan; Maria Farrakhan, daughter of Min. Farrakhan; Donna Farrakhan Muhammad, daughter of Min. Farrakhan and wife of Leonard F. Muhammad; Final Call editor James Muhammad; Eastern Region Minister Benjamin Muhammad, and Askia Muhammad, Final Call White House Correspondent.

Guest speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony will be Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Education Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Special guest will be world famous Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji.

"Other special guests will be summit participants who are concerned about the education of African youths," said Min. Akbar Muhammad, international representative of the Nation of Islam who is based in Accra. "Nation of Islam laborers felt the appropriate hour to have the groundbreaking would be during the conference so many of the summit delegates would be inspired to work through their organizations, churches and mosques to get involved in African development."

Min. Akbar said the Honorable Louis Farrakhan will send a special message to the summit through his wife, Mother Khadijah, and Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad.
Summit convener the Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan has received a commitment that 17 heads of state will participate in the summit, said Min. Akbar, citing news reports in Accra. "This summit has the potential to be the largest since Rev. Sullivan started the process in 1991 in Cote d'Ivoire," he said.
Min. Akbar also noted that on June 25, the Nation of Islam will dedicate a mosque and school in the Gambia. That mosque will be named for the late Alex Haley, author of the book "Roots." Min. Farrakhan, during his World Friendship Tour III, donated money to complete the mosque that Mr. Haley's financial contribution started.

Min. Akbar said that free bus transportation will be provided from the Conference Center in Accra at 9 a.m. and return at noon for participants who want to witness the groundbreaking.