Muslim elites have done little to empower their youth - CEO

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - Muslim elites and leaders in positions of powe= r and fame have done very little to correct the challenges and problems that confront their youth in Ghana, Miss Laurat E.P. Passah, Chief Executive of the Premium Debit Consult, a local event organisation, on Monday observed. She said Muslism leaders sit in key positions such as in Parliament, Government and in other high private capacities, but have failed to do something about the misconceptions and misperceptions of Islamic teachings as well as negative but factual things that people say about the Muslims an= d their youth in society.

Speaking at a media briefing on an upcoming Muslim youth and adult empowerment event in Accra, Miss Passah said, 93unfortunately, the higher a Muslims climbs up the educational ladder, the lesser he or she becomes interested in his or her religion." According to her, it was wrong for Muslims in authority and well-to-do positions, to continue to entertain their fellow Muslim poor brothers and sisters, who paraded their homes and offices every now and then begging for alms and support. In addition, she said, it was equally wrong for the youth to also take advantage of the situation by continuously relying on their few affluent brothers and sisters in position of authority, without doing something to also become self-reliant and responsible adults in future. Miss Passah said the maiden event dubbed: Al-Kalimah is Premier Debit Consults' intervention to empower Muslim youth spiritually, socially and economically through the message of Allah's messenger, the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

She said the event is bringing to Ghana for the first time in West Africa, one of the world renowned Muslim Scholar, Khalid Yasin (a.k.a Abu Muhammad), who is a Muslims American teacher together with other local Muslim high profile resource persons.

The event, which is slated for March 11th and 12th at the Great Hall o= f the University of Ghana, Legon and the National Theatre, will be organised under the patronage of the National Chief Imam, Sheik Dr. Nuhu Sharabutu. It is expected to attract Muslim youth from secondary and tertiary institutions, Muslim organisations and NGOs. Miss Mariama Sissy, Public Relations Officer of the company, explained further that the need for the spiritual empowerment of the youth had arisen because of the over the secularisation of formal education misconceptions/misperceptions of Islamic teachings.