Religious bodies can’t be blamed for the continued moral degeneration - Suleman Adam Sakyi

Mr Suleman Adam Sakyi, Abura Circuit President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, has said religious bodies cannot be solely blamed for the continued moral degeneration, especially among the youth in the country.

He said but for the stringent efforts by the religious groups, things would have been worse in the country.

Mr Sakyi said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of this year’s Eid-Ul-Fitr celebration in Cape Coast on Monday.

According to him majority of the youth in the country have lost the drive for moral change due to social circumstances such as unemployment.

He said the high rate of unemployment in the country had compelled the youth to engage in any activity for money without taking into consideration of its moral effects, saying, ‘the devil finds job for the idle hands’. “Moral reform of the country is a big movement. If the individual is not deeply committed to the cause, it will not last, nor will it have to drive to push the much needed moral change.

It takes conviction brought upon by the individual's free will,” he said.

“I do not think there is any church, or religious group in Ghana that does not preach against corruption, adultery, fornication, armed robbery and other forms of social vices.

Therefore it will not be proper to solely blame the religious bodies,” he added.

Mr Sakyi however noted that indiscipline and other social vices such as alcoholism, drug abuse, fornication, armed robbery, bribery and corruption posed a threat to the leadership of the nation.

As a remedy to the problem, he called for effective collaboration between the Government and the leadership of the religious bodies to give the people a sense of footing and a stronghold, from which they could grow and progress as a society morally.

Imam Saeed Abass, Abura Circuit Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in a sermon urged Muslims to remain true to the virtues of Islam.

He said fasting was a religious exercise, which drew those who engaged in it closer to Allah, and also brought peace and unity amongst Muslims.

Mr Abass called on Muslims to follow the teachings of the Holy Qu'ran to find favour in the eyes of Allah and also use the right means to acquire wealth.