Wa, Jan. 20, GNA - Mr. Sahanun Mogtari, out-going Upper West Regional Minister on Thursday called on Muslims to extend the spirit of love and compassion to each other in conformity with the tenets of the Islamic religion during the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.

These, he said, would justify the favours that Allah had showered on them throughout the year in all their religious, social and political endeavours.

Mr. Mogtari made this call when he addressed all the three major Muslim sects at the premises of the Regional Co-ordinating Council after their Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Wa.

The three major sects that gathered at the venue are the orthodox, Ahmaddiya and Al-Sunna, who all co-operated in giving thanks to the Almighty Allah for a successful year.

The out-going Regional Minister urged them not to only hold up the spirit of Islamic brotherhood but to extend fraternal gestures beyond the confines of Islam to people in other religions.

"Let us remember that Islam enjoins us to extend a hand of friendship, reconciliation and fraternity to our neighbours," he added. Mr. Mogtari used the occasion to thank the chiefs, religious leaders and the entire people of the Upper West Region for the support and co-operation he enjoyed from them in the past four years and hoped that co-operation would be extended to his successor.

Imam Mahama Tasilema Ibn Mahama, Chief Imam of the orthodox Muslims thanked the Almighty Allah for the free and fair elections during the December 7 elections and prayed that peace and love would be extended to the people of Dagbon.

He advised people of the region to bury their political and religious difference and forge ahead for unity and development, which were paramount for economic growth and development.

"If you do not come together to fight for a common purpose, God can never give you his blessings for divisive tendencies," the Imam concluded.

The security men who were detailed to keep peace at the premises had little to do as the anticipated trouble that rocked the Muslims in the past years was non-existent.