Wa (Upper West), 7 Dec. '98 - The fourth annual Ramadan conference of Ghanaian Muslims has fixed Saturday, December 19 or Sunday, December 20 for the beginning of the next Ramadan. A resolution presented by the National Hilal (Crescent Committee) and adopted by the conference at Wa last Saturday said fasting will begin on Saturday, December 19 if the crescent is sited on the preceding evening, otherwise it will be on Sunday, December 20. The day's conference, under the theme: "Religious Tolerance is the Gateway to Unification of Muslims in Ghana", was attended by Muslim chiefs and elders from all over the country. Apart from determining the day for the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the conference was to enable the participants to share ideas and experiences to promote unity and peace among Muslims and Ghanaians in general. The conference condemned all acts of lawlessness and vandalism perpetrated by certain communities in the name of Islam and advised Muslims and other religious adherents to avoid condemning other religions in their preaching. The participants lauded the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education ( FCUBE) programme, and urged Muslim stakeholders and the private sector to provide infrastructure to meet the demand for accommodation in schools. They also suggested that Islamic subjects be made examinable in schools. The resolution suggested the establishment of a National Islamic Authority to oversee and co-ordinate Islamic affairs with the view to promoting unity among Muslims and other religious groups. Mr Bede Ziedeng, Upper West Regional Deputy Minister urged Muslims to help reduce illiteracy and poor environmental conditions for sustainable development in their communities. He commended the Muslim youth in Wa for establishing an Education Development Fund and urged them to expedite action to start a model primary school in the town and promised them assistance from the district assembly. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, advised Muslims to unite and avoid practices that give Islam a bad name. "The Holy Koran abhors violence and uncleanness and enjoins all of us to live in peace with our neighbours. Let us stop creating conditions for underdevelopment", he emphasised. Alhaji Yakubu Issahaque, Upper West Regional Chief Imam, called for support for Jamiatu Al-Hidayatu Islamiat, an Islamic voluntary organisation that was established at Wa in 1948, to continue to spearhead development in the area. He said the organisation has constructed 70 mosques throughout the region, converted 90 per cent of the Koranic schools in the region into English/Arabic schools and established a clinic at Wa, which is manned by an Egyptian surgeon specialist.
Wa (Upper West), 7 Dec. '98 - The fourth annual Ramadan conference of Ghanaian Muslims has fixed Saturday, December 19 or Sunday, December 20 for the beginning of the next Ramadan. A resolution presented by the National Hilal (Crescent Committee) and adopted by the conference at Wa last Saturday said fasting will begin on Saturday, December 19 if the crescent is sited on the preceding evening, otherwise it will be on Sunday, December 20. The day's conference, under the theme: "Religious Tolerance is the Gateway to Unification of Muslims in Ghana", was attended by Muslim chiefs and elders from all over the country. Apart from determining the day for the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the conference was to enable the participants to share ideas and experiences to promote unity and peace among Muslims and Ghanaians in general. The conference condemned all acts of lawlessness and vandalism perpetrated by certain communities in the name of Islam and advised Muslims and other religious adherents to avoid condemning other religions in their preaching. The participants lauded the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education ( FCUBE) programme, and urged Muslim stakeholders and the private sector to provide infrastructure to meet the demand for accommodation in schools. They also suggested that Islamic subjects be made examinable in schools. The resolution suggested the establishment of a National Islamic Authority to oversee and co-ordinate Islamic affairs with the view to promoting unity among Muslims and other religious groups. Mr Bede Ziedeng, Upper West Regional Deputy Minister urged Muslims to help reduce illiteracy and poor environmental conditions for sustainable development in their communities. He commended the Muslim youth in Wa for establishing an Education Development Fund and urged them to expedite action to start a model primary school in the town and promised them assistance from the district assembly. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, advised Muslims to unite and avoid practices that give Islam a bad name. "The Holy Koran abhors violence and uncleanness and enjoins all of us to live in peace with our neighbours. Let us stop creating conditions for underdevelopment", he emphasised. Alhaji Yakubu Issahaque, Upper West Regional Chief Imam, called for support for Jamiatu Al-Hidayatu Islamiat, an Islamic voluntary organisation that was established at Wa in 1948, to continue to spearhead development in the area. He said the organisation has constructed 70 mosques throughout the region, converted 90 per cent of the Koranic schools in the region into English/Arabic schools and established a clinic at Wa, which is manned by an Egyptian surgeon specialist.
