Koforidua, Nov. 17, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, on Tuesday joined hundreds of Muslims at the Koforidua Central Mosque, to celebrate the Eid-ul-Adha festival. He was accompanied by Mr Alex Asamoah, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Tawiah Boateng, Eastern Regional organizer of the National Democratic Congress and other regional executives of the party. Mr Ampofo asked Muslims to live in peace and unity, which the Eid-ul-Adha stood for.

He expressed worry that though Islam advocate peace and unity, a few Muslims, especially the youth, had allowed some people to influence them to engage in criminal activities. Mr Ampofo said that Ghana was "suffering from moral decadence", and called on the state, religious bodies and the civil society organizations to collaborate and stop the canker.

He said: "There is the genuine and urgent need to address the problem because the signals on the ground are not too good". Mr Ampofo said that the spate of armed robbery, hooliganism, indecent dressing and other social vices, especially among the youth, were partly due to lack of parental control.

He appealed to Muslims to support the crusade against environmental pollution and degradation, and invest in the education of their children, to enable them to acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development. The Regional Minister presented 200 pieces of mats and a ram to the Muslims.

Alhaji Sheik Yusif Hamdani, Eastern Regional Chief Imam, asked Muslims to be guided by the principles of Islam: justice, tolerance and respect for human dignity. He advised the youth to avoid vandalism and take the education seriously.