Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called for continued religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Ghana’s religious persuasions.
He said violence fuelled by religious misunderstandings had a negative effect on national development.
[contextly_sidebar id=”i8eSNOKvOL9MO9e6Fi8uGMNv3VMJf0Yz”]“Allah has admonished mankind, particularly Muslims in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 12 that we should not create disorder on the earth,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Bawumia made the call when he addressed participants at the 87th Annual National Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana at Pomadze in the Central Region on Saturday, which hosted the Ameers-in-Charge of Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya and Uganda.
Quoting the Holy Quran, Vice President Bawumia urged Muslims to adhere to the teachings of Prophet Muhammed and emulate his lifestyle.
“Islam as a religion means peace and the Holy Prophet Muhammad has taught that a true Muslim is the one from whose tongues and hands all other peaceful people are safe and who is at peace with his neighbours.”
“These beautiful teachings are what we need as a developing nation and that requires every citizen, particularly those of us who call ourselves Muslims, to put them into practice to show to the rest of the world that violence is an enemy to progress and that our true nature as human beings is to be at peace with one another.”
Vice President Bawumia described Ghana is an oasis of peace in the sub-region because of the peace and tolerance that exists between Christians and Muslims.
“This peace is anchored by the peace and tolerance that exists between Muslims and Christians in Ghana, and we should cherish one another, we should tolerate one another. After all, the Prophet Muhammed told us Muslims that in the areas of faith, the people that we should be closest to are the Christians. That is exactly what he said. They should be our closest brothers and sisters.”
Christian-Muslim relations in Ghana have been noted as a worthy model for interfaith dialogue and peace.
Though there have been instances of friction and discrimination, Muslims and Christians have been coexisting peacefully at various levels of society.
The issue has come under the spotlight in recent times following widespread criticism of ‘prophecies’ by controversial preacher, Rev. Owusu Bempah of the deaths of the Chief Imam and the Vice President.
Some persons, believed to be Muslim youth attacked his church premises at Odorkor on Wednesday, wielding cutlasses and vandalizing parts of the property.
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By: citinewroom.com | Ghana
