WA, Nov. 27, GNA- Mr. Mahmud Khalid, the Upper West Regional Minister on Friday appealed to all Muslim Leaders in the region to continue to preach peace, unity and prosperity for the betterment of society. He said Islam means peace and all Muslims must endeavour to "smoke the peace pipe to protect and uplift the integrity of the religion, provide a better society and live a legacy worth emulating for the upcoming generation.

Mr. Khalid who made these remarks during the celebration of this year's Eid-ul Adha at Wa asked Muslims to see the occasion as a day for sharing and reconciliation.

The Minister reminded them that the stress free Hajj that the Muslims Pilgrims went through this year had clearly demonstrated government's commitment to address the numerous problems faced by the Muslim community in the country.

He urged them to be hard working and be patient with government while it found concrete solutions to address challenges confronting education, health, agriculture, road infrastructure and electrification. According to him, government had so far demonstrated its determination to tackle the issues in the agricultural sector by providing tractors, subsidized fertilizer and the introduction of "Block Farming". Mr. Khalid commended the people of the region for living in peace with a few Chieftaincy disputes that needed to be resolved. The Regional Minister to appealed to the Wa Municipal Traditional Authorities to put their act together and enskin a chief for the Municipality.

He said the Municipality had operated for far too long without a chief and this according to him was a set back as far as development of the Municipality was concerned. Dr. Suleman Bakuri, the Chief Imam, thanked the government for putting in place proper mechanisms that enabled this year's Pilgrims to go through a smooth hajj process.

He urged 'Muslim brothers' to continue to support the government in prayer so that it could deliver on its promise of a better Ghana for all. Other Muslim leaders present at the occasion said a word of prayer for the government, the Security Agencies and the people of the region for collaborating with each other to make the region a very peaceful one.