Goodwill messages to Muslims
A number of political parties yesterday urged Muslims to use the Eid-Ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) to renew their relationship with Allah and their neighbours.
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That was the focus of goodwill messages to the Muslim community as they joined Muslims across the globe to celebrate the ocassion.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) the New Patriotic Party (NPP),the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the United Freedom Party (UFP) wished Muslims well in their celebration and called on them not to depart from the religious essence of the festival.
NDC
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC extended its warmest felicitations to Muslims and urged them to use the festive period to reflect on issues of national interest.
“The NDC will always associate with this special occasion as it provides an opportunity for Muslims throughout the world to pray for peace, tolerance and Allah’s blessings, irrespective of colour, religion, creed and tribe for the development of the nation. While congratulating Muslims on this occasion, the NDC wishes to commend them for their selflessness and commitment towards unity and peaceful co-existence among all faiths in the country,” the party indicated.
The NDC reiterated the need for Ghanaians to unite in the country’s quest to pool resources towards the transformation of the country. The party further urged Ghanaians not to entertain any act that had the tendency to disturb the peace the country enjoyed, especially as the country goes to the polls on December 7, this year.
“The NDC is convinced that Allah, in His merciful nature, will accept the prayers and sacrifices of our brothers and sisters and also bring our pilgrims back home safely,” the party said.
The CPP
The CPP, for its part, said while joining the Muslim fraternity to celebrate the day, the party saw the feast as a significant opportunity to inspire the public to work hard to consolidate the gains the country had made in terms of peace and political stability.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, the party urged Ghanaians to “Acknowledge the humility and submissive spirit of Ibrahim and emulate these values to help us work towards a peaceful election and to build a strong economy.”
The CPP further called on Muslim youth not to allow themselves to be used by any political party or politician to foment trouble or create violence as the December 7 general election drew closer.
NPP
For his part, the 2016 NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, observed that it was important for Muslims and the public to let the spirit of sacrifice that inspired Prophet Ibrahim to accept God's to command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to continue to dominate their activities and relationship with one another.
“The month of zhul-hijja, in which the Hajj and Eid activities take place, is one of Islam's holiest months. May we all take advantage of this month to pray for the success of our country and to pledge to do all in our power to contribute to the forward movement of Ghana, including our ability to sacrifice for the progress of our motherland,” he said.
Nana Akufo-Addo, used the opportunity to call on the clergy and the public to be resilient in their prayers for credible, fair and transparent elections, saying that the outcome of the elections ought to further consolidate the peace, unity and democracy of the country.
UFP
The Founder and Leader of the UFP, Mr Nana Agyenim Boateng, in his statement, urged Muslims to take a cue from Ibrahim and sacrifice the little resources they had to maintain the peace of the country and to support the poor and needy in society.
“I wish to plead with all Ghanaians and Muslims around the world to continue to pray for the success of our country and do our very best to guard and protect the peace we have,” he said.
PNC
The People’s National Convention (PNC) also conveyed its best wishes to all Muslims and Ghanaians on this Eid-ul Adha day.
“As Ghanaians, we are all reminded that this day marks the Feast of Sacrifice and remains an important event on the Islamic Calendar,” a statement from the party stated.
It said as a government-in-waiting, the PNC believed the tenets of this “Feast of Sacrifice” were one that the country needed at this timen, as well as selflessness, devotion and commitment towards the needs of our neighbours and the poor in society.
“That is why we have on countless occasions reminded Ghanaians that the Kwame Nkrumah-Hilla Limann tradition is one that fills the history books with many and commendable illustration of leadership that is selfless and genuinely committed to the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
“It is these values of selflessness and sacrifice that remain in the veins of the PNC, led by its flag bearer, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, and which can transform this country and redeems it from the disappointment Ghanaians have suffered since the inception of the 4th republic under the NDC and NPP,” the statement pointed out.
The Rawlingses
In a related development, former President Jerry John Rawlings, and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings have also called on Muslims to use the Eid-Ul-Adha festival to pray for honesty, tranquillity and peace during the forthcoming general election in December.
In their goodwill message, the couple said they were joining Muslims in praying for love, peace and happiness for all mankind.
“The selfless sacrifice of Ibrahim that led to the annual celebration of Eid-ul-Adha should not be lost on us. Let the sacrifices of today, the sharing, gift-giving and prayers be our guiding principle every day,” they noted.