Ahmadiyya Muslim elders hold annual rally at Wa

WA, Oct. 4. (Seidu), GNA - Maulvi Abdul Wahab Adam, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana has called on Ghanaians to tolerate and respect one another for the sustenance of the country's peace and development.

He said Ghana was fortunate to have well meaning civil society organizations and religious bodies which had continued to work towards peace and reconciliation among various sectors of the society. He was speaking at the 26th national annual rally of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Organization at Wa on Friday which attracted adult adherents of the faith from all parts of the country with "peace and reconciliation: an imperative for national development" as the theme. Maulvi Adam observed that the relative peace that the country enjoyed had contributed immensely to the modest development that the country had achieved so far.

"It must be borne in mind in this connection, that nature itself encourages diversity and yet there is harmony in nature. Diversity therefore in itself does not constitute a cause for conflict...If Ghana is to develop, these sincere efforts will have to continue". He described the growing worldwide perception of Islam as a violent religion as unfortunate saying the religion teaches that whoever kills one person has killed the whole of mankind.

"Loss of lives, destruction and devastation go on in every part of the World and to attribute this brutality to any particular religion is an unpardonable crime against religion", he added. Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, said peace could not be attained in the society by merely professing it, as it was visible and should manifest in one's relationship with others. It was his conviction that culprits in conflict situations must always be identified and punished without partisan political considerations saying: "this will jettison the fast emerging habit of tagging every conflict situation with party colours, after all no party is above the law".

He commended the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission for its numerous interventions in the education and health sectors of the economy and noted that it was an ample demonstration of the mission's commitment to the spiritual and material development of the people. Mr. Abu Mohammed, Chairman of the Organization, called on human rights organizations and all persons of goodwill to speak out and impress on the government of the Republic of Malaysia to order the government of Selangor state to respect the rights of Ahmadiyya Muslims.