Kumasi, June 14, GNA - Sheikh Dr Ismael Saeed Adam, an Educationist, has appealed to Muslim leaders and the well-to-do in the society to promote secular education in the Zongo communities.

This, he said, was necessary to help tackle the high incidence of unemployment, poverty and illiteracy in these localities.

Sheikh Adam was speaking at a day's workshop on youth development held for final year students of the Sakafia Senior High School at Sawaba in Kumasi.

The programme was organised by the Ghana Education Service (GES). Sheikh Adam, an Islamic Scholar and Director of the School, expressed the need for Muslim parents to be encouraged to support the education of their children.

He said no child should be denied the right to education on the basis of gender, religion or marriage.

Sheikh Adam said it was time priority attention was given to the fight to eliminate the impediments hindering the total development of the Muslim youth in the era of globalisation.

He reminded the students of the socio-economic challenges they were likely to face as they completed school and urged them to remain disciplined, God-fearing and to uphold the values of hard work and integrity to achieve success in life.

Mr Nicholas Gyebi, Officer in Charge of the Asawasi Sub-Metropolitan Area of the GES, praised the Management of the School for the good job it was doing to promote secular education, particularly among Muslim girls.

"This is the way to assure the Muslim youth of their fair share of existing opportunities in the society," he stressed.