Religion of Sunday, 28 October 2012

Source: GNA

Muslim leaders call for peaceful elections

Muslim leaders in the Agona West Municipality and Gomoa East District of the Central region have called on political party leaders and their supporters to avoid violence and confusion in the campaign elections.

According to the Muslims, elections are not war and the shedding of blood but a peaceful and civil process to elect leaders to govern a nation.

These sentiments were expressed by Muslim leaders in the two areas to mark the Eid-Ul Adha festival at separate gathering at Agona Swedru and Gomoa Mangoase respectively, on Friday.

Mr. Charles Obeng-Inkoom, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Agona West, who addressed the Ahmadiyya Muslim members at Agona Swedru, appealed to them to pray for Allah’s intervention for peaceful elections.

He asked the political leaders to accept the election results, adding that the ruling party was ever prepared to accept the verdict to promote the country's democracy.

Imam of Agona Swedru Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Abubakari Ishaq, said it would not be proper for Muslims to idle around the polling stations after casting their votes.

Alhaji Abdul Karimu Musah, Central Regional “Sadauna”, (Muslim chief in the Region) and former Assemblyman for Agona Swedru old Zongo, said Allah has chosen the president for Ghana already and therefore asked political leaders and their supporters who would lose to accept the results.

He cautioned Muslims youth not to allow themselves to be used to create elections violence since Islam is a peaceful religion.

Alhaji Musah declared that “any truthful Muslim would not offer himself or herself to be used for the purpose that is against the tenets of Islam and Quran.

At Gomoa Mangoase, Osofo Ismiala Obeng, Gomoa Circuit Missionary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, said the Eid-Ul Adha celebration reminded Muslims about the principles and values of Quran which include humility and tolerant.

He called on the political leaders to desist from insults and personal attacks on their colleagues since that practice does not deepen democracy.

Nana Musah Gyedum, President of the Gomoa Managoase Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, cautioned political leaders to guard against utterances that could affect the upcoming elections.