Ahlussunna Sect to promote secular education among Muslims

Bolgatanga, June 7, GNA- The Ahlussunna Wal-Jamat Muslim Sect, is embarking on a nation wide campaign on the significance of secular education, in order to reduce illiteracy and ignorance among Muslims.

Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, Chief Imam of the Sect, noted that ignorance and illiteracy breed poverty and hinder the eradication of diseases. The Chief Imam announced the programme in Bolgatanga, when he paid a courtesy call on Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister. He said the Sect would collaborate with the Islamic Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, in order to reach out to more Muslims with the campaign message.

In response, Mr. Woyongo, informed the Imam that Government is committed to the development of the Northern Sector, in order to bring up the area to an equal level with the rest of the country. He said the focus was on Agriculture, to facilitate all- year- round farming and to boost shea nut and cotton production and marketing. Mr. Woyongo asked the Chief Imam to keep in touch with the Regional Co-ordinating Council and non-governmental organisations, operating in the education sector, in order to avoid duplication of functions.

Thirty Seminarians graduate

Cape Coast, June 7, GNA-Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba on Saturday observed that society, especially the church and parents have failed to be good role model for the youth to emulate. He said many adults in the society continued to show signs of corruption, immorality, indiscipline and irresponsibility leading to lack of trust and whole-hearted respect for adult, resulting in indiscipline in schools homes and churches.

Prof. Anumuah-Mensah expressed the sentiment at the 22nd graduation of the Saint Nicholas Seminary at Cape Coast under the theme; "Christian Education, a tool for Nation Revitalization- a place for theological Education". Thirty Seminarians, including two females graduated with awards of diploma in Ministry and diploma in theology from the University of Cape Coast.

Prof. Anamauh-Mensah said parental control has broken down with a lot of parents, especially those in the big cities busily building their carriers but with little time for their children, adding that single parenthood is on the ascendancy thereby depriving many children of love and guidance of their parents.

Touching on Christian education, he said the church has failed in their direction and urged theological Institutions such as Saint Nicholas to go back to the basic to address the critical issues of Christianity. He said churches today are too busy finding innovative means of getting money from the congregation and building their leaders' prestige but have little time to address the need of their congregations.

This, Professor Anamuah-Mensah said have resulted in the youth in their bid to search for their identity and possibilities in the

society to engage in all kinds of vices, including occultism, drug abuse and trafficking and sexual indiscipline.

He urged the grandaunts to use the training they have acquired to reverse the trend of immorality, indiscipline, selfishness and drug dependency syndromes affecting the people.

Very Rev. Victor Atta-Baffou, Dean of the Seminary, in his welcoming address announced that the Seminary would soon begin a bachelor in Theology programme and that the Seminary has submitted registration document to the Registrar General Department.

Rev. Atta-Baffou said, although the Seminary had chalked success, it is still saddled with financial problems and therefore launched a campaign to raise fund to expand the library facilities and other infrastructure as well as an endowment fund for students.

Right Rev. Daniel Allotey, Anglican Bishop for Cape Coast, who presided asked the grandaunts to go to the field to work without counting the cost. He advised them to resist the temptation of doing partisan politics openly and must obey authorities, especially their Bishops, make efforts to save the priesthood and protect the image of the church.