The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe on Friday commended Muslims in the Region for co-existing peacefully with Christians and asked that they should allow the peace to reflect in the December polls.
She said there was only one Ghana and it was the responsibility of all to protect it from any form of violence or disturbance before, during and after the general election.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said this when she joined hundreds of orthodox Muslims at the Holy Child prayer grounds to mark this year’s Edi-Adha in Cape Coast.
Eid-Adha is a Muslim festival of sacrifice, which is celebrated two months after the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitri.
Many of the congregation, dressed in white cloths to signify their joy and happiness, converged at the holy grounds to begin the Edi prayers.
The Regional Minister underscored the important role Muslims played in the dispensation of democracy in the country asked them to ensure that they did not engage in any violent acts during the elections.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe re-echoed government's efforts to ensure that the 2012 general elections were free and fair and stressed that all mechanisms would be put in place to ensure that peace was achieved.
She urged Muslim leaders to engage the Muslim youth not to engage in acts that would disrupt the December polls and stressed that no nation can develop when there is not peace.
The Regional Imam, Alhaji Yusufi Mohammed Kabate, said the Islamic religion was a religion of peace, unity and oneness and asked urged Muslims not to allow the principles and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed to reflect in their daily activities.
He urged all Muslims to be law abiding and endeavour to respect their chiefs, opinion leaders and people in authority to ensure peace and order in the country.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe and Mr Rickets Hagan, the NDC Parliamentary aspirant for Cape Coast North constituency, presented a bull, two rams and GH1,000.00 to the regional Imam.
At the Cape Coast Technical Institute, the circuit missionary of the Ahmadiyyah mission Alhaji Osafo Abdulai Yusif said as the country moves towards the polls, the youth should be circumspect in whatever they did to avoid any act of violence or disturbance in the country.
He asked Muslims to pray to Allah for Ghanaians to elect a leader who is God fearing, humble and has the welfare of Ghanaians at heart.
Mr Ebow Barton Oduro, Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South constituency, urged Muslims to let the benefits of the festival of sacrifice reflect in their activities and that they should endeavour to live in peace with their neighbours.
He called on radio serial callers and panelists to always endeavour to tell the truth and not say things that would bring violence and any form of disturbance.
Prayers were said for the President John Mahama, Members of Parliament, Council of State members and the nation as a whole.
Mr Oduro presented a ram and an undisclosed amount of money to the circuit missionary