Mills Calls For Unity

President John Atta Mills being welcomed by Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu

PRESIDENT JOHN Atta Mills has urged Ghanaian Muslims to continue to contribute to national development as they seek the face of Allah for more blessings to be showered on the nation.

Addressing Muslims at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday, after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, President Mills also called for deepening of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the various religious faiths for the unity of the country.

Neatly dressed in a white Islamic wear, President Mills did not receive the usual rousing welcome accorded him on previous occasions, setting tongues wagging about his current popularity among Ghanaians.

He told the gathering that government would do all it could to ensure that the 2012 elections was transparent.

'As you all know, we are going to have elections next year and I'm going to promise you that as a government we will ensure that we have free, fair and transparent elections,' President Mills pledged.

He entreated Ghanaians to watch what 'they say and do' because 'the word is a very potent force and we must always cherish the peace and stability that we enjoy'.

'We are all one people and I will urge each and every one of us to refrain from any acts which are likely to cause problems during the elections,' he added.

President Mills said, 'My brothers and sisters let us also remember that Ghana is the only country that we have and that all of us are the creation of Allah. We may belong to different regions or different religions but we are all one people.'

Showing his appreciation, the President stated, 'I want to thank you for the honour done me by inviting me to join you at end of the Ramadan. I want to register my appreciation for the effort the Chief Imam and his elders have been making for the peace and stability of our dear nation.

'This is a period where you have all been purified. It is therefore a period where you have a clean sheet and I want to appeal that you use this period for self assessment and for resolving to even improve upon your performance in past years'.

President Mills urged the Hajj Committee to ensure that problems encountered during last year's pilgrimage did not recur.

'As a government, we will give you all the necessary support and we will ensure that all those who are in the position to go and have been so declared, will be given the opportunity to do so,' President Mills pledged.

Praying for the peace of the nation, the National Chief Imam,

Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, enjoined all Ghanaians to join Muslims to celebrate the festive occasion.

He called on Muslims to adhere to the values and principles of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (saw) after the month of Ramadan.

'The values of selflessness, devotion, unity, amicability and tolerance that have been practised through the 30 days of fasting must continue to be our guiding principles as we steadily enter into another election year,' Sheikh Sharubutu pointed out in a sermon.

'As a people and a nation, one of the greatest tributes that we can emulate is to strive to live in peace with one another. We must individually and collectively nurture, promote and sustain an atmosphere of unity amongst ourselves,' the National Chief Imam stated in an addressed presented on his behalf by his spokesperson, Alhaji Gado Mohammed.

He appealed to Ghanaians, particularly the Muslim youth, to desist from any acts of lawlessness during the 2012 general elections.

'Every Muslim may have his or her own choice but they should not allow any politician to misuse them,' Sheikh Sharubutu admonished.

By Awudu Mahama