Accra, Aug. 4, GNA – The Cultural Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ghana, Abbas Ali Afsari has called on Ghanaian Muslim journalists to team up and collaborate towards sensitizing the society on the of teachings of Islam and its benefit to the people.

Mr Afsari said journalists had a cardinal role to play in every aspect of human endeavour and there was therefore the need for them to be well educated in all fields to guide the society towards socio-economic development.

The Counsellor gave the advice at a special Iftar (breaking of fast) for Muslim journalists drawn from the print and electronic media and other Muslim leaders in Accra on Wednesday evening.

The programme, which is a collaboration between the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) and the Cultural Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran, discussed the proposed establishment of a National Zakat House and to create a platform for Muslim journalists to network.

Mr Afsari urged Muslim journalists to form cyber groups to help society to fight against youth corruption and other social vices that tended to erode the beliefs and doctrines of Islam.

He also advised the media personnel to conduct research on the role of the internet and its impact on the youth with emphasis on a cultural urge or revolution so that the society, especially the youth, are not swayed by certain practices that are alien to them.

Mr Afsari stressed on the importance of technological development, adding that it was paramount to the enhancement of every country and called on journalists to team up with government, non-governmental organizations and other sectors to ensure that the people benefitted from it.

Major (rtd) Alhaji Mohammed Easah, President of COMOG called on the Clergy and Imams to guide their followers against cultural invasion in the country, citing the menace of homosexuality and lesbianism and other social vices that have a direct impact on the youth and their development.

He appealed for assistance from the Government and other Muslim countries to enable COMOG to establish its proposed National Zakat House scheme to cater for the needs of the Muslim brethren and called for support for Muslim students to undertake studies in petro-chemical engineering.

Alhaji Harruna Attah, Editor of the “Accra Mail” newspaper admonished Muslim journalists to be mindful of their beneficial roles in the religion and the society and to be guided so as not to be swayed by politics to undermine each other or other people in their haste to win political favours.

He called on all Muslim journalists to work together to uphold their values and to network to highlight on issues that would bind the country together and bring about peaceful co-existence, unity and socio-economic development.

Mr Abdel-Manan Abdel-Rahman, National Organizing Secretary of COMOG explained the benefits that the society could derive from the establishment of the Zakat House that aims at alleviating poverty, creating awareness about the religious duty of Zakat payment and its utilization for the benefit of the society.

He said COMOG had so far undertaken and supported development projects in 52 districts across the country for the benefit of Muslim communities and called for collaboration between the various Muslim sects for the enhancement of Islam.