Koforidua, Aug. 4, GNA - Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing has advised Muslims in the country not to allow themselves to be used to cause confusion in the December elections. He said this year's election was a crucial one and since the two parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) were on a draw game and one wanted to be declared the winner, the Muslim youth must not allow themselves to be used in any way. Alhaji Boniface who was speaking at the second Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Regional House of Muslim Chiefs and Imams at Koforidua at the weekend urged all those who had no vote but were above 18 years to go and register.

He described the December elections, as a penalty shoot-out between the NPP and the NDC "since they have each scored 2-2 and so we need people to vote for the NPP to ensure that the penalties go in our favour".

The Minister advised supporters of the NPP and NDC to see themselves as members of different groups but partners whose activities were critical to the consolidation of democracy. He said there were about 365 Zongo communities in the country and they contributed to development through their activities such as security men and labourers at many establishments and urged them to polish those activities rather than allow themselves to be used as tools in fomenting troubles in the society. Alhaji Boniface later promised to give the Chiefs 100 bags of cement to complete an office building project where they could have their meetings. Chief Abubakar Uman II, President of the House and Chairman of the Zongo Community, said the Association was formed in 1991 to create a common platform for the Muslim leadership in the region. 04 Aug. 08