Millions of Muslims worldwide are gathering for prayers and get-togethers to celebrate the start of the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The holiday began late Monday in Ghana with the sighting by clerics of the new moon. The sighting can vary from country to country. Observant Muslims mark the month of Ramadan by fasting through the daylight hours and celebrate Eid-al-Fitr with feasting, gift-giving and visiting family graves.

NDC, NPP, PNC Congratulate Muslims

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday congratulated Muslims for the successful end to their Ramadan fasting and the celebration of the Eid-ul-fitr.

A release issued and signed by the General-Secretary of the party, Mr Dan Botwe, said the NPP believed that the Eid-ul-fitr was a unique spiritual occasion in Islam and urged them to use the occasion to reflect on the challenges of life with devotion and dedication to their fellowmen.

"It is the prayer of the NPP that at this period, Muslims would also pray for peace and development in the country", the release added.

NDC Congratulates Muslims

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have sent congratulatory messages to Muslims on the occasion of the Eid- Ul-Fitr celebrations which fall today.

The NDC said it recognised the immense contributions that Muslims had made towards the development of the country.

“ The party also appreciates the collaboration that has existed between the NDC government and Muslims,” it said.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Bede Ziedeng, General Secretary of the NDC in charge of operation,s to commemorate the Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations. The party, according to the statement ,extended its hearty congratulations to all Muslims for successfully going through the Ramadan fasting.

“ It is most refreshing that the Almighty Allah had been able to provide Muslims with the necessary strength , determination and will-power that has enabled you to go through the difficult but important period of fasting which has no doubt enhanced your spiritual development for the glory of Allah ,” it said.

The statement described the Ramadan fasting as a unique moral and spiritual characteristic of Islam that extols the virtues of devotion, honesty and closeness to God.

It said these attributes, in addition to those of sincerity and brotherhood of man, were also important principles that foster nation-building and social cohesion.

The statement said the NDC hoped that after having undergone such a spiritual exercise, Muslims would continue to bring their experiences to bear on the development of the country “ as they had always done in the past in our collective effort at moving the nation forward”.

“ In particular, it is important to draw attention to the fact that Muslims in Ghana have contributed significantly to the relative peace and security we are currently enjoying within a sub-region engulfed by conflicts”, it said,

PNC salutes Muslims

The Peoples' National Convention (PNC) on Monday congratulated all Muslims on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations scheduled for Tuesday.

A statement issued and signed by Mr D. Bin Koten Bibi, the party's Publicity Committee Chairman in Accra noted that the fasting and prayers by all Muslims was indeed what Ghana needed most to move Allah to act to restore Ghana to its former glory.

"In particular, Ghana needs Allah's intervention to make the peace and stability that we are enjoying, a lasting one, to unite us, to rid our society of moral decadence and other vices and get us out of our seemingly insurmountable economic problems."

The statement said the party was convinced that through the month-long fasting and prayers, Muslims who would be willing to be used by Allah to bring about change have been spiritually empowered by him to bring about "the change we desire in our society and our nation.

"We need this change for our nation to progress," the statement said. It said "As you pray, ask Allah to change us from our bad old ways of doing things and make us new Ghanaians.

"New Ghanaians who will put Allah and country first, his neighbour second and himself last".