Regional News of Sunday, 7 September 2003

Source: GNA

Ahmadis celebrate women Silver Jubilee

Techiman (B/A) Sept.7, GNA - Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary in- charge of Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana, at the weekend advised men to change their attitudes towards women as inferior beings to ensure a just and fair world situation.

"Since women have the unique privilege of producing men, men must be charitable to them," he said.

Maulvi Adam was addressing a Silver Jubilee rally of Lajna Imaillah, Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association, at Techiman in Brong Ahafo.

About 5000 delegates throughout the country, La Cote D'Ivoire, Benin and the United Kingdom attended the rally, which was under the theme, "25 years of Service to Allah".

Maulvi Adam said the daily subjection of women to domestic violence, sexual abuse and pre-mature widowhood, among others, "cannot be said to be the best reward for all the sacrifices they make for the preservation of mankind".

He exhorted women to be conscious of their unique status and not to regard childbirth as an end in itself but to prepare their children adequately for the future through proper upbringing and good education. Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister in an address read for him called on Muslims to work hard enough to erase the misconception that Islam is a religion of violence.

Islam is an honourable and peaceful religion and charge its adherents to live by its tenets, he added.

The Regional Minister entreated Muslim parents to ensure that their children lead decent lives and are faithful to Allah to ensure discipline in their communities.

Nana Seinti urged the Ahmadiyya Mission to form virgin clubs and counselling centres to steer their members away from contracting HIV/AIDS.

He advised Muslims to send their children to school to be able to achieve academic excellence and abhorred the incidence of early marriages and child labour in some Muslim communities.

Hajia Sara Bonsu, National Vice-President of the Women's Association who presided said the Association was founded in 1992 and has its headquarters in Pakistan.

She said the Association has the aim of educating Ahmadi women on their rights and responsibilities at home and in communities to ensure the proper upbringing of their children. Hajia Bonsu encouraged the women to make an impact as good role models to effect a revolutionary change in the attitude, lifestyle and behaviour of their children and Ghanaians as a whole.