Minister encourages Muslims to promote secular education

Agogo (Ash), July 25, GNA - Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has appealed to opinion leaders and the well-to-do in Muslim communities to act together to promote secular education in the Zongos. The world today, he said, was driven by knowledge and technology and a= s such 93we have no option than to ensure that our children are given every opportunity to acquire reasonable level of education to assure them of a better future."

He said given the pivotal role of education in the transformation of society, the government would continue to invest substantial resources in the sector to provide children in all parts of the country with equal acces= s to quality education. Dr Agyemang-Mensah was inaugurating a Central Mosque and three-unit classroom block for the Islamic Basic School at Agogo in the Asante-Akim North municipality.

The projects were funded by the Muslim community, some philanthropists and a Kuwaiti-based Care and Social Development Organization. The Minister advised the youth to desist from criminal and other anti-social activities to foster peace and decency in the society. He expressed worry about the unbridled crave for riches, which was pushing many young people into robbery, car snatching, drug peddling and addiction to the detriment of their own development. Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, who supported the project with 200 bags of cement, praised the peaceful co-existence between Muslims and followers of other religious faiths in the area.

He urged the Muslim leaders to work harder to sustain this and forge ahead with unity of purpose. Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, Omanhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, advised the youth to eschew violence and accept to live in total peace and harmony with their neighbours. 25 July 11

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