Rashid Bawa calls for peaceful elections

Ashaiman, July 19, GNA- Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State in-charge of Education, Youth and Sports on Saturday called on Muslims to ensure peaceful, transparent and successful elections in December.

He noted that Muslim religion stands for peace and tolerance, saying the Holy prophet of Islam demonstrated a high sense of tolerance during the Hijra when he settled peacefully among the Christians and Jews. Mr Bawa was speaking to the Muslim community at the week-end at Ashaiman during the enskinment of Mallam Ibrahim Umar Salihu Yaro, the new Saraki Zongo of Ashaiman, who succeeded the late Umar Salihu who died in April last year.

He said very soon the nation would put democracy "we have painstakingly built" to test, and explained that the outcome of previous elections gave Ghana a good international image.

The Minister said Ghana is now a shining example of democracy in Africa, pointing out that much of the respect, the reputation, and honour that Ghana has today, was gained from the peaceful and successful way previous elections were conducted.

Mr Bawa called on Muslims in the country to eschew any form of violence before, during and after the forth-coming elections and champion the tenets of Muslim religion by being leading advocates of peace. Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive said in this election year, the electorate should be good listeners to the many players in the political game, so that "we can have the right of choice".

Present were Mr Emmanuel K. K. Teye, MP for Ashaiman and Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse.