Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - The Ministry of the Interior has declared Tuesday, November 16, as a statutory public holiday.

A statement released to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, and signed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, said: "Tuesday, November 16, 2010 which marks Eid-ul-Adha is a statutory holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country."

Another statement issued from the Office of the National Chief Imam has said Muslims throughout the country will on Tuesday celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

It said the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu and the Ameer and Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Wahab Adam, were informing the Muslim community of the celebration of the festival. "May the Almighty Allah continue to shower blessings on our President, the Government and the general public, especially our youth," the statement said.

Eid-ul-Adha is, according to Islamic teaching, a time for Muslims to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of a live animal, usually a fully grown ram, to God.

It is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of obedience to God but instead was able to sacrifice a ram by God's command.