Peace among religious groups key to development - Bawumia
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has stressed the need for peaceful coexistence between people of different religious persuasions, emphasising that violence is an enemy to any society's development and progress.
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The three-day convention is themed: "Building a Violence-Free Society - The Role of The Citizen".
He said: "Muslims, Christians and practitioners of other religious faiths have lived together peacefully in Ghana over the years, and we must do all in our power to preserve and enhance the relative peace we enjoy in this country".
“Islam as a religion means peace and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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.
This morning, I was Special Guest of Honour at the 87th Annual National Convention of the Ahmadiyya Mission, Ghana held at Pomadze in the Central Region. pic.twitter.com/Cd4VaA8fnB
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“Allah has admonished mankind, particularly Muslims in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 12 that we should not create disorder on the earth.
“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.
"Muslims and Christians have been living in peace, and Ghana is an oasis of peace in the sub-region, probably among the most peaceful countries in the world today, because of the peace and tolerance that exists between Christians and Muslims in Ghana, Vice President Bawumia pointed out.
“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,” Vice President Bawumia reminded the Ahmadiyya Convention.
“A peaceful Ghana will lead to a prosperous Ghana,” Dr Bawumia added.
Dr Bawumia also acknowledged the contributions of all the clergy – Muslim, Christian – the National Peace Council, Civil Society, the security services for their hard work to maintain peace of the country.