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Veep asks Muslims to pursue secular
education with vigour
Accra, Dec.30, Ghanadot/GNA- Vice
President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Sunday asked Muslims to
preach the tenets of Islam, alongside secular education,
emphasizing that; “the benefits of secular education far
outweigh any fear of their faith being diluted.”
“The biggest challenge I foresee is the spread of secular
education. It is a fact that if the Muslim community is to
be mainstreamed effectively into all sectors of our society,
then secular education must be available.”
Vice President Mahama was speaking at a durbar organised by
the Ghana Muslim Mission in Accra, to climax activities
marking the 50th anniversary of the organisation. It was on
the theme: “Ghana Muslim Mission @ 50- Prospects and
Challenges.”
He charged the Mission to lead the crusade to enhance
enrolment levels of Muslims in schools.
“It is a challenge of changing minds. It is not an easy
task. But I am confident that the Mission has the track
record to succeed.”
Vice President Mahama also asked the Mission to be proactive
in the campaign against HIV/AIDS and the stigmatization and
discrimination of people living with the virus.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the problems associated
with the annual Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca and called on
the organisers and other stakeholders of the event to be
careful and dispassionate in putting in place the right
measures to reverse the anomaly.
Vice President Mahama, who lost his bid to lead the ruling
New Patriotic Party in Election 2008 at the party’s
delegates congress on December 22, pledged to use his
political experience and knowledge at the disposal of the
country as long as possible.
He encouraged more Muslims to strive to occupy the highest
office of the land, stressing that their faith should not
limit their ability to do other things in society.
“Of course, one must live by the tenets of Islam, but Islam
does not restrict us in the face of the challenges of a
global world.”
Mr. Mohammed Awal, Managing Director of Graphic
Communications Group Limited, said in a keynote that,
Muslims must tell their own story to the world to reverse
the negative media reports about adherents of the religion.
He called for a new crop of leaders in Ghana who would not
be self-centred but would champion the lot of every
Ghanaian.
Mr Muhammed Kpakpo Addo, Assistant General Secretary of the
Mission called on Muslims practicing polygamy to be
circumspect about HIV/AIDS by screening their spouses before
marriage.
Ghana Mission, founded in 1938 aims among other things, at
fostering unity amongst Muslims and formulates and pursues
policies and programmes that would propagate the true
teachings of Islam in Ghana.
GNA
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