PURSUE PEACE, REDUCE ACRIMONY, ASANTEHENE'S CHIEF PRIEST TO ZONGO COMMUNITIES
The
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, has urged the Muslims and Zongo
communities to take advantage of government’s free second cycle education
programme and the double track system to ensure that their school going aged
children attain at least senior high education.
The Regional Minister was
addressing muslims at their Eid-ul Adha prayers at Asawase. Hundreds of orthodox
muslims from Kumasi and the Asokore Mampong municipality converged on the
Central Mosque at Asawase for their Eid ul-Adha open air prayers.
There was an
enhanced security arrangement made up of Police and Military personnel within
the vicinity of the Central Mosque following recent agitations among the Zongo youth
as a result of the shooting to death of seven persons by the Police in the
region. Unlike in previous occasions, the Regional Police Commander or his Deputy was absent for an unexplained reason but believed to be due to the recent disagreements between the Police and the Zongo youth in the killing of seven persons.
Also present were the Ashanti Regional Minister, some officials from
the Regional Coordinating Council, the Police Command and representatives from
the Manhyia Palace.
The Muslims were led in their Prayers by the Ashanti
Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Harun Mumim during which they prayed for
themselves, the Asantehene, the President and his officials and peace in Ghana.
On behalf of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Minister
presented two bulls, a ram, 20 bags of rice, 10 cartons of cooking oil and a
cash of five thousand Ghana Cedis to the Muslims for the celebration of their
festival of sacrifice or Eid ul-Adha.
Additionally, in fulfilment of his
earlier pledged to the Leadership of the Muslims community last year, the
Regional Minister handed over a glass pulpit and a permanent podium at the
refurbished Central Mosque premises for use on special occasions.
In a sermon,
the Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Mumin Harun cautioned muslims to be law abiding,
disciplined and shun lifestyles contrary to the tenets of the Islamic faith.
The Chief Priest of the Asantehene, Baffuor Asabre Kogyawoasu, called for an end to the numerous acrimony, indiscipline and conflict
within the Muslim and Zongo communities in the region. He entreated
the Zongos to pursue peace and harmony while striving to adhere to their 'generally agreed processes in selecting their leaders.'
The Ashanti Regional
Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, noted that the promised free second cycle
education is no more a concept but a reality meant to provide improved access
to formal education to Ghanaian children. The Zongos and Muslim communities
should therefore take advantage of it to educate their children. The Regional
Minister urged all Ghanaians to contribute to the governance process through
ideas especially in the implementation of government’s policies and programmes.
In an interview, the Pui Naaba of the Moshie
Community in the Ashanti region, Muftawo Issaka, who is also a businessman,
expressed regret about how the government and the Bank of Ghana have handled
the crisis of the banking sector and said, the situation is eroding investor
confidence in the local industry with a rippling effect on job creation for
particularly the Zongo youth.
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