Kumasi, Aug 8, GNA - The National Hajj Committee, has said that the first day of sighting the moon for commencement of the 2009 Ramadan fast will be on August 20.

It also said " if the moon is not sighted on the above stated date, then the search for sighting should continued on Friday August 21, 2009 and when not sighted, August 22, will automatically be the day of starting this year's fasting".

These were contained in a communiqu=E9 signed and made available to GNA by the Chairman of the Committee, Sheikh Musah Abdul Kadir at the end of 15th National Annual Ramadan Conference in Kumasi at the weekend The two-day event that was attended by over 200 delegates from various parts of the country, was on the theme: "Unity the Necessary Tool for Development - the Role of Ghanaian Muslim".

The statement said that "the government should be able to extend the holiday for the Eid Fitr Festival from one to two days since there would be difficulties and tiredness during the celebration in the first day." It said that if government does not respond immediately to the request, the National Chief Imam would officially announce the date to end the fasting, pending the one-day public holiday enjoyed by Muslims in the country.

The communiqu=E9 said the Committee would liaise with the Information Services Department and the Media in disseminating the date of the commencement and end of the festival.