Minister Advocates Religious Tolerance As Tool For Social Development

** Agona Nyakrom (Central Region) 23 Sept, Dr Farouk Braimah, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, has identified religious tolerance as an essential tool for socio-economic development. He said the absence of tolerance brings in its wake, misunderstandings and conflicts which lead to economic stagnation, poverty and suffering. Dr Braimah was opening a four-day bi-annual Islamic youth camp at Agona Nyakrom in the central region. The Deputy Minister said any religion worth its salt must inculcate sympathy in its followers. Dr Braimah emphasised that the country cannot continue to divert its scarce resources needed for development to mitigate the effects of conflicts. Dr Braimah called on Muslim youth to acquire entrepreneurial skills so that they can utilize the opportunity presented by the privatisation of the economy profitably. The Deputy Minister advised them against environmental degradation and asked them to join the fight to keep the environment clean. Mr Samuel Oppong, MP for the area, urged Muslims youth to live up to their constitutional obligations and to promote freedom of worship and association, among others. He expressed the hope that the camp would provide ''food for thought'' for them to work for religious tolerance. Sheik Abu Osuman, director of Al-Muntada, an NGO, pledged his organisation's continued support for the education of Muslim youth.