The Brong-Ahafo Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Umar Abdul Kadif, has urged Moslem youth to eschew violence and immoral activities and demonstrate that Islam abhors violence and does not teach it.
Addressing Moslems to mark this year�s Eid-Ul-Fitr festival, at the Coronation Park, in Sunyani, on Friday, the Chief Imam stressed that Ghana was one of the most peaceful countries in Africa, despite its multi-religious and ethnic considerations.
He, however, noted with regret that �of late the selfishness of perpetrators of chaos have managed to cause or create conflicts in the two northern regions of Ghana�.
�Islam has five pillars and Ramadan is one of them,� he pointed out. �Allah will not accept the worship of those who violate any of those pillars.�
On behalf of the Moslem community in the region, Alhaji Kadif expressed gratitude to the government for the �wonderful manner� it organised the Hajj last year.
For the first time in the history of Ghana, he said, pilgrims� luggage arrived in the country ahead of the pilgrims, unlike the past where pilgrims on their return, had to wait for their luggage.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, called on them to let the 30-day fast reflect their efforts towards the development of the nation.
He advised Moslems to always cross-check whatever information they receive so they would not be swayed by lies to do the unexpected.
A significant aspect of this year�s Ramadan prayers, in Sunyani, was that for the first time, officials of the two giant political parties in the country, the NPP and the NDC, were present and fraternized with each other amidst great applause by onlookers.
Mr. Yaw Boateng Gyan, national organiser of NDC, Mr. Kwadwo Oppong Ababio, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, (MCE) as well as New Patriotic
Party Members of Parliament for Sunyani East and West, Mr. Ameyaw Kyeremeh and Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, respectively, who also addressed the gathering, advised Moslems to continue to live in peace, in Sunyani, in particular, and the region, in general.
Later, Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo on behalf of government presented a bull, 100 bags of rice and a cash of GHC 500 to the Chief Imam for the Muslim
community.