Moslems mark Eid-al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice
Moslems communities throughout Ghana on Thursday held prayers to commemorate the Islamic festival of Eid-al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
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The celebration denotes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God's command, and is marked with animal sacrifices shared for family, friends and the poor.
From Ho, Tim Dzamboe reports that hundreds of Moslems converged at the Police training depot park to submit collective prayers to Allah in an open air congregation led by the regional chief Imam, Alhaji Anas Hamidu. The event also saw Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo, addressing the celebrants.
The chief Imam said the essence of the festival was to demonstrate the virtues of obedience, respect for law, non- violence, love and peace devoid of conflict, to facilitate total understanding for sustainable development.
Ganyaglo who presented 100 plastic chairs on behalf of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council and five bags of rice and cooking oil on behalf of the Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Mr. Benjamin Kpodo also urged Moslems to live as a united front to support the government in delivering its promises to the people.
From Tamale, Zadok Kwame Gyesi, reports that hundreds of celebrants in the Tamale Metropolis, dressed mostly in traditional African prints gathered at the Jubilee Park to mark the occasion by offering prayers and thanks to Allah.
Speaking at the event, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna urged the Moslems community to take interest in the education of their children, saying "We cannot live as true Moslems if we do not seek knowledge by taking the education of our children seriously."
He added that education remained a key to all forms of development, indicating however that the focus should be on both secular and religious education and not one sided.
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The Northern Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Mohammed Abdul Salam Ansuabir, advised wealthy Moslems to use part of their wealth to do the work of Allah, saying on the day of judgement, wealth would be of no use and that one's deeds would be his or her defense.
And from the Eastern regional capital of Koforidua, Naa Lamiley Bentil reports that hundreds of Moslems trooped to the Central Mosque to offer their prayers.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Suleman Amudani led prayers for the nation and its leaders, and called on all religious groups to cherish the existing peace and harmony the country was enjoying and to nurture it.
Alhaji Amudani also charged Ghanaians to desist from making derogatory statements in the quest to express their opinions on national issues, while the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Antwi- Boasiako Sekyere said all Ghanaians were expected to guard the relative peace, particularly as the country goes to the polls next year.
He said, "All must put hands on deck to ensure violence free campaigns and elections".
At the worship center of the Tijanians, the Deputy Regional Minister, Madam Mavis Ama Frimpong advised Muslims to resist any attempt by any group to use them as tools to perpetuate violence and foment trouble since Islam was for peace and not war.
There were similar celebrations across the country.