The President, John Dramani Mahama on Saturday urged Ghanaians to continue co-existing peacefully, irrespective of their religious differences to engender national unity.
He noted that peace is the fundamental requirement for development and all must strive to embrace it to facilitate the growth of the country.
The president made the call in a message delivered on his behalf by Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, at the 19th National Ramadan Conference at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Cape Coast.
It was held under the theme; ‘Muslim Youths Agents of Social Change’ and attended by a number of dignitaries, including the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Sarpong and Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area.
The conference was to provide the platform for Muslims to interact on all religious matters as well as to remind themselves of the impending fasting period and the pilgrimage to Mecca. President Mahama said it was appropriate that the conference was dedicated to the youth, since it will prepare them to take up leadership positions to contribute their quota to national development.
Alhaji Awaisu Bio, the National Executive Secretary of the National Chief Imam, in a speech read on behalf of the Chief Imam advised all Muslims to participate in this year’s fasting to help purify their body and soul and stay connected to their creator.
He said the theme for the conference was a laudable one but cannot be achieved without education and called on the youth to seek knowledge because it is a valuable asset that can propel the growth of the individual.
The Chief Imam also charged all Regional chief Imams and Muslims to continue praying for the nation and urged the youth to be agents of change, take inspiration from their leaders and be disciplined in all their endeavours.
The Secretary to the Northern Regional Imam, Alhaji Mohammed Ghazali expressed concern about the low number of enrolment of girls in schools and urged all Muslims to enroll their female children in school and ensure that they attain higher education.
He bemoaned the current level of indiscipline and corruption, which he said had become the order of the day and therefore called on all institutions, organisations and NGOs to help give better training to children to reverse the trend.
Alhaji Ghazali said, though education is important, some children are not academically inclined and so they should be assisted to learn trades of their choices for them to be useful to their communities and the country at large.
Dr. Ahmed on behalf of the President presented GH¢ 5,000 to support the conference. In a related development, President John Dramani Mahama has declared that it is God who ordained him as the President of Ghana.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Mount Horeb Prayer Camp at Mamfe in the Eastern Region, President Mahama said the wonders God continues do in his life is something his opponents find it hard to come to terms with.
“And what they didn’t understand is that it is God who bestows leadership. During the campaign I declared that it was not by my might that I was going to be president of Ghana but that he who is above… that is why they [opposition parties] still cannot understand why a person will use 40 days to win an election in a country. But He who is above does wonderful things and He does what pleases Him.”
President Mahama also stated that God has blessed the country to the extent that foreigners even recognize that and keep applauding the progress being made in the country. The President, therefore, said it is time Ghanaians realized these miracles and counted their blessings.
“Our nation has been successful, I feel proud when I go outside and they say oh this is the president of the Republic of Ghana and everybody wants to come up to say: oh Mr. President your country is doing very well; Mr. President your nation is blessed; Mr. President your nation is leading in Africa.
“And I say why is it that everybody else outside the world sees that our nation is doing well, but we alone here in this country say that our country is the worse hell hole in the world?” he asked.
Head and Founder of the Prayer Camp Prophet Nii Okai, wants the Health Ministry to collaborate with churches in dealing with mental health challenges.
The Mount Horeb Prayer camp aside its spiritual duties, also caters for mentally challenged patients.
President Mahama was accompanied by a team of government ministers and other government officials.
