Campaign with Honesty and Maturity - JAK

Accra, March 18, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday charged Ghanaians to ensure that political campaigns remained legitimate process in democratic governance and not to allow it to degenerate into misunderstanding and conflict.

"It must be done with tolerance, discipline and honesty. Only the display of such virtue and maturity can move the nation forward," President Kufuor, said this in speech read for him at the 75th Annual National Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission at the Headquarters of the Mission at Ashongman, near Accra.

Mr Kufuor, who arrived later on the conventions grounds, noted that the Mission had been an active partner to successive governments in nation building.

He said: "Apart from providing training in moral and spiritual values to its members, it has also provided education and health care delivery, significantly, in deprived communities of this country. This is highly appreciated by government and the beneficiary communities." He commended the experiment of cultivating wheat by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission's Agricultural Project at Depali, near Tamale. He said the Government was embarking on a number of President's Special Initiatives (PSI) in sorghum, maize and cotton in the three Northern Regions and this was expected to create wealth in these areas. President Kufuor noted that the theme for the occasion: "Unity In Diversity: The Path To National Stability And Development" was of paramount interest to Ghanaians as people trying to rediscover themselves.

He acknowledged that religious, cultural and ethnic diversity in a nation must be harnessed to develop the country.

" For a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation like Ghana, such a process would enrich and deepen our democracy, release our productive energies to improve our economy, and make the lives of citizens more fulfilling."

He extended the felicitations of the Government and people of Ghana to His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V; Supreme Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement, who assumed office recently and who resided in Ghana some years ago.

His Holiness Kalifatul Masih called on Ahmadis to be tolerant of other religions and treat all with kindness.

He commended the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality but cautioned that this should be guarded well so that foreigners did not dilute that virtue.

His Holiness charged Ahmadis to be selfless to their country and work hard to develop the nation, adding that they must try to excel in everything including education.

To women, he advised that they must allow the fear of God to guide their activities so that they would be able to produce a great future for the youth.

Earlier the Head and Missionary in Charge of the Movement in Ghana, Mauvi Wahab Adam welcomed all to the convention which was described as unprecedented especially with the visit of the Supreme Head of the Mission.

There were fraternal greetings from other religious bodies, Foreign Diplomatic Missions and organisations.