President Mahama asks Ghanaians to live in peace
The President, John Dramani Mahama on Saturday urged Ghanaians to continue co-existing peacefully irrespective of their religious differences to engender national unity.
He noted that peace is the fundamental requirement for development and all must strive to embrace it to facilitate the growth of the country.
The President made the call in a message delivered on his behalf by Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North at the 19th National Ramadan Conference at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Cape Coast.
It was held under the theme; “Muslim Youths Agents of Social Change” and attended by a number of dignitaries including the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Sarpong and Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area.
The conference was to provide the platform for Muslims to interact among themselves on all religious matters as well as to remind themselves of the coming fasting and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
President Mahama said it was appropriate that the conference was dedicated to the youth since it will prepare them to take up leadership positions to contribute their quota to national development.
Alhaji Awaisu Bio, the National Executive Secretary of the National Chief Imam, in a speech read on behalf of the Chief Imam advised all Muslims to participate in this year’s fasting to help purify their body and soul and stay connected to their creator.
He said the theme for the conference was a laudable one but cannot be achieved without education and called on the youth to seek knowledge because it is a valuable asset that can propel the growth of the individual.
The Chief Imam also charged all Regional chief Imams and Muslims to continue praying for the nation and urged the youth to be agents of change, take inspiration from their leaders and be disciplined in all their endeavours.
The Secretary to the Northern Regional Imam, Alhaji Mohammed Ghazali expressed concern about the low number of enrolment of girls in schools and urged all Muslims to enroll their female children in school and ensure that they attain higher education.
He bemoaned the current level of indiscipline and corruption, which he said had become the order of the day and therefore called on all institutions, organisations and NGOs to help give better training to children to reverse the trend.
Alhaji Ghazali said, though education is important, some children are not academically inclined and so they should be assisted to learn trades of their choices for them to be useful to their communities and the country at large.
Dr. Ahmed on behalf of the President presented GH¢5,000 to support the conference.
Source: GNA