Muslim Government workers abandon work

Wa, Nov. 26 GNA- Although government did not declare Wednesday November 26, as a statutory holiday, work at the government ministries, departments and agencies at Wa was virtually at a halt as most of the offices were either working with skeleton staff or locked up.

The situation followed the decision by orthodox Muslims at Wa not to celebrate Eid-Ul Fitr on Tuesday November 25, which was declared a public holiday by the government.

Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigations at Wa showed that only the Al-Sunna and Ahmaddiya Muslims who are in the minority prayed on Tuesday while the orthodox Muslims who are in the majority preferred to pray on Wednesday.

According to their leaders at Wa, orthodox Muslims did not sight the moon on Monday evening and therefore it was not advisable for them to pray the next day.

GNA visits to most of the schools also showed that that while most of the few ones had few students without teachers, others were closed.

Most heads of departments interviewed by the GNA expressed dissatisfaction at the trend of affairs as it was lowering productivity.

"If yesterday was declared a public holiday, I don't understand why some people decide to create their own holiday at the neglect of their official duties" a GES official who wanted to remain anonymous said.