Muslims asked to let people see the reality of peace in them

Kumasi, Dec 25, GNA - Alhaji Ishak A. Bonsu, Asunafo North District Chief Executive in the Brong-Ahafo region, has called on Muslims to let people see the reality of peace in their daily lives. He urged them to remember that their actions or inactions collectively or individually would be traced to the Islamic religion which stood for peace, unity and submissiveness.

Alhaji Bonsu was addressing the closing session of the 49th annual national conference of the Ghana Muslim Mission (GMM) at the Islamic Secondary School Park at Ampabame, a suburb of Kumasi on Sunday. The four-day conference was under the theme, "In Pursuance of Quality Education for the Muslim Child".

He appealed to members to educate their children to refrain from negative tendencies in life such as prostitution, drunkenness, stealing, fighting, armed robbery, violence and hard drugs which are all hindrance to education.

The DCE said though Muslims have made significant progress in enrolment of children for formal education much more remained to be done especially that of the girl-child.

Alhaji Bonsu said Islam fairly enjoined all parents to encourage and facilitate the education of their children both boys and girls without hindrance placed in either of them.

"We must all appreciate and understand that education is a basic human right, vital to personal and societal development", he said. He said ensuring quality education for children should not be seen as a responsibility of government alone but a shared one with all parties taking in policy formulation and its implementation.

Sheikh Issaka Martey, the National Chairman of the Mission, in an address read on his behalf, appealed to members of the Mission to ensure unity and brotherliness among them and Christians.

He said the Mission in consonance with its aims and objectives had made a lot of difference in the fight against illiteracy, ignorance and diseases.

He said in the field of education the Mission can boast of a vocational institute, secondary schools and many basic schools throughout the country.

On health, he said, the Mission's hospital at Beposo near Asante-Mampong was on course and that the first phase of the project was inaugurated two years ago.

Sheikh Amen Bonsu, Managing Director of Amen Scientific Herbal Hospital in Kumasi, who presided said quality education goes with quality health care and therefore urged members to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme so that they benefit from it when they fell sick.

He urged them to keep their environment clean and refrain from casual sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases especially HIV/AIDS.

Sheikh Bonsu stressed the need for them to venture into farming and other income generating activities so that they could raise funds to support the socio-economic development of the country.

An amount of 146 million cedis was realised in an appeal for funds in support of the rehabilitation of the Islamic Secondary School which the Mission won back after a protracted litigation spanning over two decades.