Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday announced that the Government was establishing a National Peace Council, to nip in the bud conflicts that could escalate into violence and also sustain the country's stability. To facilitate the process, a bill is before Parliament, to serve as a backbone to the Council and nurture Ghana's peace agenda.

Alhaji Mahama made this known when he addressed the 77th National Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Accra on the theme: "Promotion of World Peace: The Role of Religion." "The relative peace that we enjoy in the country should not be taken for granted. This country can no longer slide into its inglorious past in view of the gains that we have made through our collective sacrifices and efforts in the economic, social and political fields. "Eternal vigilance is needed to maintain and sustain the peace we are currently enjoying in the country," he said. Alhaji Mahama said although Islam stood for peace, harmony and truth, the majority of Muslims seldom lived and practised these precepts. "No sooner do we leave the mosque or prayer grounds than we forget about these moral injunctions." Alhaji Mahama said some Muslims had allowed doctrinal conflicts to divide them, which sometimes degenerated into violence and carnage. He said religious principles and ethics should manifest themselves through the thought and conduct of man, stressing: "It is only then that religion's noble values can influence the course of communities and nations."

Alhaji Mahama noted that most religious adherents allowed their personal ambitions and desires to manifest under the cloak of religion in order to achieve their inordinate ends. "I want to urge you to be wary of those masquerading as pious religious revivalists, who would confuse and mislead you to cause disorder and conflicts in your homes and communities." Alhaji Mahama commended the Ahmadiyya Mission and other religious bodies for deepening peace building in Ghana, and tasked the leaders of the Mission to continue to inspire and educate the citizenry to keep aloft the banner of peace and stability.

Maulvi Wahab Adam, the Ameer (Leader) of the Mission, said it was contradictory and hypocritical for Muslims to emphasize that Islam stood for peace and to indulge in "mindless acts of violence. He observed that some Muslims had hijacked Islam to serve their political ends. Maulvi Adam said although peace was a complex issue that touched on the economy, governance and the culture of the people it centred on the individual. "Peace like a seed should be planted in the mind before it germinates and grows to fruition." The Ameer announced that Ahmadi engineers from the United Kingdom and Canada were exploring the possibility of using solar energy and windmill technologies to generate electricity. He said the initial experiment at Mpaha; Yendi and Kalba in the Northern Region had proved to be most promising.

Maulvi Adam said since the historic visit of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V, the Spiritual Leader of the Mission to Ghana last two years, Ahmadi entrepreneurs had shown interest to invest in oil and gas exploration as well as mechanised commercial farming. "I am glad to announce that the International Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission has approved the establishment of another Hospital by the Mission at Mim in the Brong Ahafo Region. The first hospital is at Daboase in the Western Region. Maulvi Adam said approval had also been given for the establishment of first scientific herbal clinic in Kumasi. Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, said in a fraternal message that it was the sacred duty of mankind to worship and serve God in order to show appreciation for the numerous blessings they had received from Him. Nii Adotey Obuor, Sempe Mantse (Chief of Sempe) and Acting President of Ga Traditional Council; exhorted Ghanaians to use religion to promote peace and harmony.