Bolgatanga, Oct. 19, GNA - Mr. Joe Ellis, Head of the Economic Department of the United States (U.S) embassy in Accra, said on Thursday that America has a great deal of respect for Islam which by interpretation stands for 'Peace.'

"We in America are not anti-Islam. Like our Muslim friends, we also share values such as respect for others, educating the youth, and promoting peace and harmony in society," he said.

He said it was in the light of this that the United States Mission in Ghana decided to seize the opportunity provided by the holy month of Ramadan to demonstrate solidarity with its Muslim friends in Ghana. Mr. Ellis made these remarks when a visiting team from the U.S. Embassy donated 250 mini-bags of rice estimated at about 37.5 million cedis, through Friends Against Global Terrorism (FAGLAT), a local Muslim organization, to the Muslim community in the Upper East Region at a ceremony in Bolgatanga.

He said the US Mission considered embarking on outreach programme across Ghana a matter of top priority. That is why the gesture of friendship shown to Muslim communities in Accra was being extended to other Regions in the hinterland.

The Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila, observed that respect for human rights and individual freedoms constituted an important cornerstone for the development of human society.

"Poverty breeds terrorism, and by embracing the fundamental values of human rights we can eradicate poverty and its associated ills from our society."

Mr. Gambila expressed the hope that the bonds of friendship between the US Embassy and the Muslim community in the Region would grow from strength to strength.

Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Sita Abubakari, Regional President of FAGLAT, explained that the organization was formed in 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, in solidarity with the global war on terror.

He said FAGLAT had over the years benefited immensely from the support of the US Embassy in Accra. "We have organized sporting activities during the Eid festival, promoted cultural exchange programmes with Muslims in the US, and held seminars to sensitise Muslim communities on the importance of settling differences through peaceful methods, all with the support of the US Embassy."

Mr. Abubakari made it known that out of the consignment of rice donated to the Region, 100 mini-bags had been sent to the Muslim community in Bawku. He appealed to the US Mission in Accra to include Muslims from the three Northern Regions in its cultural exchange programmes rather than concentrating on those in the southern sector alone.

Members of the team from the US Embassy included Mr. Chris Hodges, Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Geff Graham, Political Officer and Ms. Regina Dennis, USAID Programme Officer.

Also present were Sheikh Arimiyawo Shaibu, General Secretary of FAGLAT, and Mr. Hudu Mogtari, National Financial Secretary of FAGLAT.