Muslims Eid-Ul-Adha datelined

Tema

Imam Abdul Samad, Tema Municipal Chief Imam led Muslims in prayers at the Tema Sports Stadium to commemorate this year's Eid-Ul-Adha. They prayed for the nation, President John Agyekum Kufuor and peace in the country.

He stressed the need for Ghanaians to bury their differences and unite to move the nation ahead.

Imam Samad explained that the festival represented the feast of sacrifice in remembrance of Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his only son Ishmeal.

He asked Muslims not to concentrate only on the celebration but show love to each other through sharing of whatever they had with the poor and the needy in society.

Takoradi

Mr Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister on Saturday said Government would not shirk its responsibilities to the development of Muslim communities in the country.

He said this could be achieved when the Muslim communities initiate and embark on self-help projects to improve their living standards. Mr Amoah made the pledge when addressing Muslims at the annual Eid-ul-Adha festival in Takoradi.

He called on Muslims and other religious leaders to establish educational endowment fund to assist the brilliant but needy students in their communities.

"Those who have the resources must assist those in need and could not educate their children," he added.

Mr Amoah called on the various religions to work in unity to ensure peaceful co-existence and accelerated development of their communities. He noted that filth was a major challenge facing the country therefore, efforts must be made to rid the various communities of the filth to ensure serene atmosphere in the society. Mr Amoah called on Christians and Muslims to register and enjoy the benefits of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Alhaji Mohammed Awal Shaibu, Takoradi District Chief Imam led the prayers.

Kumasi

Sheikh Mohammed Kamel, Ashanti Regional Imam of Al-Sunna Waljama, addressing Muslims at the Methodist Primary and JSS Park at Old Tafo, Kumasi to mark the celebration, stressed the need for Muslims to unite to ensure peace and development of Ghana.

He noted that the development of any country depended on the collective efforts of individuals to contribute meaningfully towards its socio-economic development.

Sheikh Kamel regretted that some Muslims could not participate in the Hajj this year and hoped the Hajj Council would resolve the problem and refund monies to those affected.

He emphasised the importance of education as a tool for development and appealed to Muslims to give quality education to their children to enable them play positive role in the country.

Sheikh Kamel expressed concern about the manner some Muslims were discriminated against in admission and employment to institutions and urged people involved in such acts to stop.

He commended efforts being made by some Muslim communities to establish schools to promote education and help improve the standard of education in the country.

The Ashanti Regional Imam advised Muslims especially the youth to refrain from immoral practices such as drug trafficking, drug abuse, indiscipline, teenage pregnancy and other social vices that impeded development.

Special prayers were offered for the Government and the people of Ghana for God's protection and guidance in the years ahead to ensure peace, stability and progress.

Kumasi

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister has called on Muslims to ensure cordial relationship with God, adding, "Your commitment to God should be total."

He made the call when he joined Muslims in an open air prayers at the Central mosque at Akwatialine in Kumasi to mark Eid-Ul-Adha, the feast of sacrifice.

Mr Owusu-Ansah said celebration of the feast which demonstrated Abraham's obedience to God showed the importance of sacrifice in mankind's relationship with God.

He said, 93It is necessary that the youth understand the reasons for the celebration to be abreast with its essence instead of merry making."

"As Abraham was ready to sacrifice his most treasured gift, Ishmeal, we should also be ready to sacrifice what is dear to us for the good of all and sundry," he added.

Mr Owusu-Ansah asked Muslims to pray for God's blessings on the nation in 2007 to become historic with problems related to religion, ethnicity and false teachings were eliminated.

He appealed to parents, community leaders, Imams and Elders to let education of the youth be a priority stressing that 93One of the most effective means of eliminating poverty, indiscipline, lawlessness, violence and other social vices from the communities is functional education."

The Regional Minister urged them to be guided by the teachings of Islam in all their endeavours to ensure a God-fearing and peaceful society.

"The leadership of the nation would continue to offer dedicated service to entrench democratic and transparent governance enshrined in the Constitution. We therefore, call for your continuous prayers and support especially when we offer sacrifices and prayers to God," he said.

Sheikh Abdul Moumin Haroun, Deputy Ashanti Regional Chief Imam who led thousands of Muslims in prayers, prayed that God removed all sufferings and hardship from the society in mankind's quest to improve on the spiritual and physical development.

He said the occasion should be used as a day for reconciliation, uniting families and friends to refrain from all negative tendencies but work towards peace and development in the country.

Sheikh Mohammed Kamel, Ashanti Regional Imam of Al-Sunna Waljama, addressing Muslims at the Methodist Primary and JSS Park at Old Tafo, Kumasi to mark the celebration, stressed the need for Muslims to unite to ensure peace and development of Ghana.

He noted that the development of any country depended on the collective efforts of individuals to contribute meaningfully towards its socio-economic development.

Sheikh Kamel regretted that some Muslims could not participate in the Hajj this year and hoped the Hajj Council would resolve the problem and refund monies to those affected.

He emphasised the importance of education as a tool for development and appealed to Muslims to give quality education to their children to enable them play positive role in the country.

Sheikh Kamel expressed concern about the manner some Muslims were discriminated against in admission and employment to institutions and urged people involved in such acts to stop.

He commended efforts being made by some Muslim communities to establish schools to promote education and help improve the standard of education in the country.

The Ashanti Regional Imam advised Muslims especially the youth to refrain from immoral practices such as drug trafficking, drug abuse, indiscipline, teenage pregnancy and other social vices that impeded development.

Special prayers were offered for the Government and the people of Ghana for God's protection and guidance in the years ahead to ensure peace, stability and progress. 30 Dec. 06