Sheik Dr Osman Nuhu Shaributu, National Chief Imam, has declared Friday the 10th August 2012 slated for the burial of the late President John Atta Mills, a national day for prayers.

A statement signed by Alhaji Khuzaima M. Osman, Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam said: “The late President Mills was a good man and had served this country selflessly to better the lots of Ghanaians, as such; we owe him gratitude and respect.”

“While we mourn the sudden demise of President Mills, we need to ask Allah to protect the legacy of the late President by praying for Ghana to remain with us after the 2012 elections.”

It said there was the need to invoke almighty Allah to aid the current President, John Dramani Mahama, with His (God) guidance, protection and wisdom to stir the affairs of the nation.

The statement said Ghanaians should pray to Allah for him to continue to shower his blessings that come in the form of peace, development and stability on Ghana before, during and after the December presidential and parliamentary general elections.

It said: “Islam enjoins us to live together as one people, who belong to one nation and that the nation needs peace and stability to thrive. We can only observe our religious practices as Muslims and Christians in accordance with divine instructions of Allah when we have peace and stability.”

The statement encourages all and sundry to show solidarity, sympathy, sense of respect to elders and senior citizens and teach our children the sense of nationalism and high morals.

Quoting words of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW), it said: “The best among you is the one who is more beneficent and kind to his people, the best of the nations are the people whose elders and authorities show and practice kindness and mercy to their lesser ones (younger generation), and lesser or younger generations show respect to their elders and high ranking authorities.”**