V/R Muslims Pledge To Be Peace Ambassadors …As They Reject Religious Extremism

Date published: July 31, 2014

From Mohammed Awal, Ho

A sea of colour and festivity covered the region yesterday, as thousands of Muslims swarmed to observe the Eid-ul-Fitr in the regional capital, Ho, to mark the end of fasting.

Addressing a horde of Muslims at the prayer ground, the Ho Police Depot, the Acting Volta Regional Chief Imam, Alfa Anas Hamidu, admonished all Muslims to “jealously guard” the peace the country is experiencing, after years of political tumult.

Imam Anas also called on President John Dramani Mahama, through the Regional Minister, to bring development to the Muslim communities, as he pledged their resolve to uphold the current peace and unity in the country. He said they would not do anything to jeopardise the tranquility that Ghanaians are enjoying currently, after decades of starvation due to political instability.

“We want to assure you the President and Ghanaians in general, that we would not do anything to spoil the peace we are enjoying in Ghana,” assured Imam Anas. Denouncing religious extremism in any format, he said: “We would not support anyone in the name of religion, tribe or politics to bring trouble in Ghana.”

Lessons learnt from Ramadan

Imam Anas said the month of Ramadan had taught Muslims four things, and they are:

1. How to be patient
2. Upholding good morals
3. Purification of the heart
4. Living a noble lifestyle, and last but not the least
5. Living in peace and unity.

He called on all Muslims to tolerate each other as they sought to exhibit these lessons in their human existence. The Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, wishing all Muslims Bar-ka-da-sallah, urged that Ghanaians adopt responsible attitudes, as she blamed Ghana’s economic woes on irresponsible attitudes of Ghanaians.

That notwithstanding, she said the government was aware of the challenges, and that things would normalise any time soon. “I can assure you that the stormy period is over.” The President, the Minister announced, as a barka da salla package gave the Muslim Umma in Ho 50 bags of rice and cooking oil.

EID-UL-FITR

The Eid ul-fitr, also known Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast and the ‘lesser Eid,’ is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (Sawm). The Eid is a single day during which fasting is forbidden. The day falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.