Eid-ul-Fitr observed in regions
It was a historic scene at Wa when the Catholic Bishop of Wa, Most Reverend Richard Kuuia Baawobr, joined Muslims to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr to climax Ramadan.
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Emmanuel Modey reports that Most Reverend Baawobr called for peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims.
He described the two religious groups as one family, since they were all children of God.
Most Rev. Baawobr was installed Catholic Bishop of Wa on May 7, 2016.
The special prayer session was led by the Regional Chief Imam, Dr Sulemani Mohammed, who called on all political parties to execute their forthcoming electioneering peacefully to avoid any needless confrontation and violence.
Addressing the gathering, the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, urged Muslims to lead lives worthy of emulation.
"You must live lives that will promote the peacefulness of the religion and not to condemn it," he emphasised.
Tamale
Samuel Duodu reports that the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Abdullah Abubakari, joined hundreds of Muslims in the region to offer prayers to end this year"s Ramadan and to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at the Tamale Jubilee Park.
The open-air prayers were led by the Northern Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Abdulai Abdul Salaam, and attended by the Gulkpe-Naa Abdulai Alhassan, the Paramount Chief of Tamale, and the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tamale, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Hanan Gudadow.
In his address, Mr Abubakari congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan and used the occasion to remind Ghanaians to be mindful of their utterances as the 2016 general election drew closer.
He also urged Muslim clerics to continue to preach peace and not relent in their efforts because Ramadan had ended.
The Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Salaam, urged Muslims not to return to their bad deeds now that the Ramadan was over but must let the 30 days of fasting and prayers make them lead lives worthy of emulation.
In a related development, the leader of the Ambariya Suni Community (a Muslim sect in the Northern Region), Sheikh Saeed Abubakar Zakaria, has called on the government to invest in the country’s educational sector to produce quality future leaders.
Speaking after leading members of the congregation to offer prayers at the Sakasaka Park in Tamale, he said the economic status of the country had led to low turn out of schoolchildren, especially in the rural areas; hence, the need to allocate some state funds to support the sector.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A. B. A. Fusieni, joined them in prayers.
Kumasi
From the Ashanti Region, Daniel Kenu and Emmanuel Baah report that the Regional Minister, Mr John Alexander Ackon, urged Muslim leaders to embark on public education to ensure a peaceful general election.
Mr Ackon joined hundreds of Muslims at the Kumasi Central Mosque to celebrate the end of Ramadan and said it was important that Muslims translated the discipline during the fasting period into real life experiences to continue to uphold the peaceful co-existence between them and other religious groups.
He urged Imams and Muslims elders to maintain a close collaboration with authorities in the region and continue to pray to the Almighty Allah for all Ghanaians to remain steadfast to build a strong and united nation.
Koforidua
It was an all white affair when hundreds of Muslims converged on the premises of the Koforidua Central Mosque in the Eastern Region to offer prayers to Allah to mark the end the Ramadan, reports George Folley.
Led by the Eastern Regional Chief Iman, Alhaji Sulemana Andani, the worshippers offered prayers for the country as the process begins towards the general election in November this year.
Alhaji Andani prayed for peace before, during and after the elections and for Ghana to continue to remain peaceful and serve as a beacon of hope for democracy in Africa.
He urged the youth to be law abiding and not to indulge in any activity that will lead to violence in the country.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Ama Frimpong, commended Muslims in the country for going through one month of spiritual cleansing and urged them to continue to pray for Ghana to ensure peace all the time.
Bolgatanga
Vincent Amenuveve reports that the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Albert Abongo, used the occasion to entreat Muslims in the region to refrain from acts that would disturb the peace in the run-up to the November polls.
He equally urged Muslim youth in the Zongo communities not to yield to the parochial interests of some politicians to foment trouble in their respective communities, particularly during political activities.
Mr Abongo asked parents and Muslim scholars to take advantage of the numerous interventions by government to send their children, especially the girls, to school.
The prayers were led by the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Yussif Adam, to mark the occasion.
Takoradi
The Muslim community in Takoradi in the Western Region, led by the Chief Imam, Alhaji Mohammed Awal, converged on the Jubilee Park to offer prayers to Allah for a successful end of Ramadan, reports Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah.
He prayed for continuous peace and tranquility in the country as she prepared for the presidential and parliamentary elections in November this year.
Sunyani
Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah reports that hundreds of Muslims, led by the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Abdul Kadir, converged on the Coronation Park to celebrate this year's Eid Ul Fitr.
They prayed for the government and the entire nation for peace and development.
Addressing the participants after their prayers, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, asked Muslim leaders and chiefs to educate the youth to refrain from indulging acts that would mar this year's general election.
The Dwantoahene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Takyi Abeam, asked politicians to conduct issue based electioneering and avoid provocative utterances that could end up in violence.
Tema
The Tema Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Ghana, Maulvi Zia-Ul-Haqq, urged members of the community and Muslims in general to remain chaste, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
Maulvi Zia-Ul Haqq addressed hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims in Tema and urged them to be guided by the dictates of the Quran and teachings related to the holy months of fasting.
He cautioned Muslims to observe the festivities in accordance of the Islamic laws and continue to offer sacrifice to humanity and Allah.