Koforidua, Sep. 11, GNA - Mr Babal Jamal, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, joined hundreds of Muslims to celebrate this year's Eid-Ul-Fitr festival at the Koforidua Central Mosque. The mosque was filled to capacity as Muslims from all walks of life appeared in their new clothes to thank Allah for a successful year and to ask for his blessings in the ensuing year

Sheik Suleman Amdani Yusif, Eastern Regional Chief Imam, called on Muslims to be caring and charitable to their neighbours irrespective of their ethnic or religious background so that they would continue to enjoy the blessings of Allah. "I would like to remind all Muslims in Ghana of the values and principles that we hold in common, and Islam's role in advancing justice, tolerance and dignity of all human beings," he stressed. Sheik Yusif appealed to Muslim parents to invest in the education of their children to enable them to acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development.

He advised Muslim youth desist from acts of vandalism and channel their energies into productive activities. Sheik Yusif commended Government for supporting last year's Hajj, especially the introduction of Hajj village, which made preparations effective and smooth. Mr Jamal said that Government was committed to the development of Muslims in the country and asked them to support the President's Better Ghana Agenda to succeed.

He asked Muslim youth to ensure peace and not to allow themselves to be used for indecent activities by individuals or groups of people. Mr Jamal called on Ghanaians to participate in the forth-coming Population and Housing Census to enable Government to obtain adequate data for development planning. He presented 60 bags of rice, 10 cartons of cooking oil, poly mats and GHC 500 towards the celebration.