Let's do more to calm tensions - Sheikh Musah

Kumasi, March 25, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Imurana Musah, has urged religious leaders to do more to assist Ghanaians to be tolerant of each other so as to calm tensions in the society.

He said it was important they encouraged the people to live in total peace and harmony regardless of individual differences and beliefs. Sheikh Musah said this when the leadership of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana called on him at his office in Kumasi. This comes as the Church seeks to boost its ties with the Muslim Community.

The Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, Chairperson of the Presbytery, led the delegation.

Sheik Musah said he was happy with the visit, which he said demonstrated the high level of religious tolerance prevailing in the country. Islam and Christianity, he said, shared the common goal of turning people away from evil by helping them to lead pious lives. He pledged to work in closer cooperation with the church to bring progress to the society.

The Rev Opuni-Frimpong said inter-religious cooperation was a key plank of the church's agenda. He denounced the hostility that characterized the relationship between Christians and Muslims in some West African countries and said this was unhelpful to the cause of progress. The leadership of the two dominant religions should act with urgency to mend the frosty relations. The delegation had already met with the leadership of the Kumasi Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Methodist and Anglican Dioceses to strengthen existing ties.