Mr. Rashid Bawa, Deputy Minister of Education asked Muslim preachers not to allow themselves to be used for any mischievous activity that would retard the nation's development.

"There should be mutual understanding among Muslim groups so as not to allow ourselves to be used for any mischievous activity that goes to retard national development," Mr. Bawa told Muslim preachers at the official opening of the first national conference of the Society of Muslim Preachers (SOMUPRES) at Teshie-Nungua Estates, near Accra at the week-end.

Formed in April this year, SOMUPRES is the official mouthpiece of orthodox Muslim preacher organisations in Ghana.

It seeks to bring the fragmented Muslim preacher organisations under one umbrella, maintain and promote peace and unity among Muslims in the country, ensure better living standards for the preachers and promote inter-religious dialogue.

Using diverse methods including radio and television programmes, SOMUPRES would propagate the Islamic Faith in towns and villages, support needy members of society, create jobs, offer marriage counselling, professional career advice, and relief and health services.

The society would also undertake education in Islamic communities, promote research and publish books and embark on other development projects.

Mr. Bawa identified ethnic and religious conflicts as factors that draw back progress and urged the Muslim preacher to direct his messages to individuals, corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations to solicit their contributions for national development.

The Deputy Education Minister urged the preachers to use their influence to educate Muslim parents to take keen interest in the education of their children, especially the girl-child and not to give them out for marriage.

He said the Muslim female is particularly marginalised and reduced to a subsistent existence, largely due her limited education.

Muslim preachers, Mr. Bawa said can contribute to free the Muslim female population from misery and deprivation by drawing the attention of Muslim communities to educate their females.

Sheik Ishaq Nuama an prominent Islamic preacher urged his colleagues to give hope to the people, rather than being "prophets of doom."

He blamed the increasing spread of HIV/AIDS infections on the adoption of "liberal and free lifestyles," fuelled by immoral publications by sections of the Ghanaian press.

Sheik Alhaj Mumuni Suleman, Lecturer at the Department of the Study of Religions, Legon, who chaired the function called for moral development through both religious and secular education.

He said, the government declaration of zero tolerance for corruption might not go any far without a sound moral base for the people.

Religious bodies should therefore, team up with the government for a holistic approach to morality and development.

He called for the establishment of Muslim counselling units in all mosques.An appeal for funds in aid of the society yielded 1.7 million cedis.

Among those present was Nii Adjei Kraku, Tema Mantse.