Expose criminals in our midst - President

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday asked Ghanaians to be vigilant in their communities and expose armed robbers and miscreants to make the work of the Police successful.

The President said: "Somebody always knows the thief or the armed robber and such miscreants do not deserve to be sheltered by us. Somebody somewhere, always has the relevant information the Police require to make the breakthrough in a criminal investigations."

Addressing thousands of Muslims at prayers to mark Eid-Ul-Adha at the Independence Square in Accra, President Kufuor noted: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

Eid-Ul-Adha provides the platform for Muslims all over the world to unconditionally surrender to the will of Allah as demonstrated by the Prophet Ibrahim when he agreed to Allah's command to sacrifice his son, Ismail to him. Accordingly, every mature Muslim, on the day of the festival, is required to slaughter a ram, camel or cow to Allah to signify their complete and unconditional surrender to the will of Allah.

President Kufuor said the laws of the country could only function well and be enforceable when society was prepared to give the needed support and assistance to its enforcers. He said the equipment and logistics the government was providing for the Police would not be adequate to fight crime without the co-operation and support of the citizenry.

President Kufuor said "we could not take the peace we have for granted and must, therefore, work hard daily to protect it, adding that it was the responsibility of all to ensure that there was law and order in the country. President John Agyekum Kufuor urged Ghanaians to steadfastly protect the relative peace that the nation enjoys.

He cautioned: "At this time when the nation is going through difficult economic conditions, it is very easy for mischief makers to take advantage to try and disrupt the peace of society."

President Kufuor told Ghanaians that the government, which had been transparent and honest about the reasons for making harsh decisions, would keep faith with them. "...Once the nation gets over the current difficulties, as it will, I am convinced that the economy will then be freed to flourish," he said.

President Kufuor appealed to Muslims to be tolerant of other people's beliefs and views as enshrined in the Constitution and said they should end the erratic doctrinal conflicts that tarnish the image of their religion as one of peace.

Sheikh Usman Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, advised the worshippers to give up bitterness, hatred and rancour and replace them with patience, forgives, fortitude and selflessness. He urged them to mobilise their material and spiritual resources toward national development, peace and stability.

Alhaji Gado Mohammed, a Muslim leader, called for peace in all Muslim communities, particularly Dagbon. He said it was crucial that the parties involved in the crisis there sacrificed their interests and desires in the supreme interest of brotherliness and peace.

Alhaji Mohammed asked them to respect the Akosombo peace agreement and commended the President for establishing the Reconciliation Commission to bring about forgiveness and peace.

Vice President Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Parliamentarians and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.