Kumasi, July 1, GNA - Sheikh Umar Musah, Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, has urged the government and other political parties to take advantage of the prevailing "unity of purpose" atmosphere in the country and build upon it in order to sustain the unity of Ghanaians at all times.

He said the country's participation in the 2006 World Cup competition in Germany had exhibited a lot of unity and goodwill among Ghanaians from all spheres of endeavour and there was the need for a concerted effort by all to sustain it to speed up the socio-economic development process of the nation.

Sheikh Musah was speaking at a special prayer session organized by the Ashanti Regional Council of Ullemas and Imams for the country on Friday, as part of the 46th Republic Day celebration. The prayers were sponsored by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to give opportunity to the Muslims to pray for peace, unity, stability and prosperity of the nation, the government, Asanteman and all the people in the country.

Sheikh Musah said there was the need for the jubilation brought by the World Cup to be transcended into the political arena and bring the people together to develop the nation. Baffour Domfeh Gyeabour II, Nsumankwaahene, who represented the Asantehene, appealed to Muslims to live in harmony with their neighbours.

He commended Muslims and Zongo communities in Ashanti Region for the peaceful manner in which they had co-existed with the Asantes and urged other Zongos in the country to emulate the gesture and promote peace in their regions.

Baffour Gyeabour also advised Muslim parents to take advantage of the government's capitation grant to send their children to school and also keep their environment clean. Alhaji Umar Rabo, President of Fityanul Islam, an umbrella Muslim youth organization in Kumasi, thanked the Asantehene for sponsoring the prayer session and the pieces of advice offered to Muslims in the region.

He advised the Muslim youth to be law-abiding and shun away from vices that brought the name of Islam into disrepute.