Don’t take entrenched positions on matters of peace

The Sarikin Zongo of Cape Coast, Alhaji Mahmoud Dandey Mazawagay IV, has commended the National Peace Council (NPC) for its role in the resolution of claims and counter-claims, relating to religious tolerance and violation of constitutional rights of Muslim students.

Earlier, this year, there was a heated debate in the country on what was seen as discrimination against Muslim students in Christian Schools, who were prevented from wearing Hijabs, and were also forced to attend morning devotions and church services.

Addressing hundreds of Orthodox Muslims who defied Saturday’s early morning rain showers to converge at the Holy Child Grounds in commemoration of this year’s Eid-Ul-Fitr, Alhaji Mazawagay urged Ghanaians not to take entrenched positions on issues that could mar the country’s peace.

He observed that unlike previous celebrations where some authorities of Senior High Schools in the Metropolis prevented Muslim students from joining the commemoration, this year, had been different, and therefore commended the school authorities.

He called on Muslims and Christians to continually pray for peace and unity in the country, especially with the approach of an election year.

Mr Kweku Rickets Hagan, the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, urged Muslims to be good ambassadors of their faith at all times.

Mr Hagan wished them a happy celebration and presented GHc2,000 to support the celebration of the festival.

At the Cape Coast Technical Institute Park, where the Ahmadiyya Muslims prayed, Alhaji Ustaz Abdullah, the missionary in charge of the Abura circuit, asked Muslims to use the lessons learnt during the fast to help build the nation.

He urged Muslims to pray for the leaders of the country, and shun habits that brought the name of the mission into disrepute.

Mr Ebo Barton Odro, the MP for Cape Coast South, and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, advised parents to make their children’s education their prime focus.

He hinted that he would soon inaugurate two new basic school science laboratories at Pedu and Efutu, to support the academic work of students in the constituency, and promised to sponsor one member of the mission to Mecca.

He advised the youth to celebrate in moderation.

Prayers were said at both venues for the country, its leaders and the citizenry.