Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings and wife, Nana Konadu, on Wednesday urged Muslims, to use this year's Ramadan to promote and enhance unity and strength of all communities by praying for love and peace.
In a statement issued in Accra, the former First Couple said 93as the month of Ramadan commences, Nana Konadu and I wish all our Muslim brothers and sisters well, as they embark on this annual religious journey to re-evaluate their lives and enhance their inner purity."
During the Ramadan, Muslims devote a month-long period to fast, pray and restrain themselves from human pleasures.
The statement said it is the month of revelation of the Quran, reading and reciting it and a month of significant demonstration of the love of Allah towards mankind and between Muslims and peoples of all faiths.
"This is the blessed month of Allah - a month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A month with Allah is the best of months. Each breath you take glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered," it added.
The statement said 93Nana Konadu and I take this opportunity to wish you all a sound body and an enlightened mind and a pure heart so you may be able to fast and recite his revealed thoughts in the Quran, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah's forgiveness during this Holy month.
"As you observe this holy sojourn may it strengthen cohesion and the feelings of compassion, love and the rebuilding of our common national aspiration based on great and high morals."
"The Ramadan gives us great opportunities and lessons, which we see through sight and insights. We demonstrate how we show mercy to one another."
The statement said Ghana and indeed the whole world, was engulfed with several challenges - hunger, poverty, enmity, hatred, war and natural disasters, 93these are signs of the negativity we create because we fail to express love to our fellow human".
Ex-President Rawlings and wife called on Muslims not to lose this opportunity to seek Allah's favour to turn around the atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust that had engulfed the world through concerted prayer.
"Ghana is facing serious social, cultural and political challenges and it is our prayer that at the conclusion of the Ramadan period we would have prayed for God to give us a sense of direction and to make us bold", the statement said.