Wa, Sept 9, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Saturday reminded Muslims of the need to tolerate opposing views in order to prevent their doctrinal differences from degenerating into violence. Differences in the interpretation of the Holy Koran, he said, would always occur but that should not lead them to resort to violence on the least disagreement.

He said many Muslim leaders had been at the forefront in resolving chieftaincy, land and political disputes and continued to support in maintaining peace and stability.

Vice President Mahama said this when he joined Muslim leaders from all over the country at the closing session of this year's "Ramadan" Conference at Wa as part of his four-day tour of the Upper West Region. Prior to the onset of the month of "Ramadan" in the Islamic calendar Ghanaian Muslims meet in a regional capital to deliberate on fixing an acceptable date for the commencement of fasting. The conference fixed September 22 for the sighting of the new moon and Muslims are expected to begin the "Ramadan" fast on Saturday September 23.

If the crescent is not sighted on September 22, the Conference said Saturday, September 23 would be the 30th day of Shaban and therefore fasting would begin on September 24.

Vice-President Mahama deplored the continued lukewarm attitude adopted by Muslims towards education, resulting in high school dropout among Muslim children and giving out young Muslim girls into marriage. "The NPP government is committed to the development of education that is why it has introduced the capitation grant and the school feeding programme but Muslim communities do not appear to be taking advantage of these interventions", he said.

In an address read on his behalf the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Nuhu Sharabutu, advised Muslims to avoid vices like drug trafficking and armed robbery.

He advised them to give equal opportunities to their children to acquire knowledge and use all resources available to them to support them to succeed in heir quest for such knowledge that would benefit them.

On the gay and lesbian conference that was to be held in the country, he commended the government for banning it and said Ghanaians should be true servants of Allah by obeying His commandments.

Mr Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister, said the Islamic Senior Secondary School at Wa was making great strides in second cycle education and appealed to Muslims in the region to take advantage of the progress it was making by sending their children to school. Vice President Mahama donated 20 million cedis to support the improvement of infrastructure at the Wa Islamic Senior Secondary School.