Kumasi, Sept. 27, GNA – Mr Samuel Sarpong, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has acknowledged the critical role religious bodies are playing in the nation’s development and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

He tasked them to deepen their commitment towards resource mobilisation to facilitate job creation and skills acquisition programmes, provision of social amenities and campaign vigorously against indiscipline and social vices.

Religious bodies, he said, had since time immemorial been agents of change and for that matter government would continuously partner them to meet the aspirations of the people.

Mr Sarpong was addressing the closing session of a two-day meeting of the United Forum for Islamic Affairs in Kumasi.

The platform was used to deliberate on issues bothering on the development of Muslim communities, particularly education, youth development and peaceful co-existence.

The MCE called on Muslims to foster good neighbourliness and admonished their leaders to promote and embrace secular education.

This, Mr Sarpong, said would enable the youth to acquire knowledge and skills to open them up for more opportunities in the society.

Alhaji Ibrahim Yussif, an Executive Member of the Forum, expressed the need for Muslims to contribute meaningfully to the Islamic Education and Development Fund in order to help achieve its objectives.