By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Sept. 17, GNA – The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission says several dividends accrue, when there is adherence to the principles of the concept of Unity in Diversity.
The Mission said there was understanding between individuals and between communities.
Dr Musheibu Mohmammed-Alfa, a Member of the National Jalsa Planning Committee, said this, in turn, engendered empathy, oneness and love for neighbours, leading to an atmosphere of peace and harmony within communities and by extension within a country.
Dr Mohmammed-Alfa was speaking at the 29th Annual Conference of the Greater Accra Region of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Accra.
The conference was on the theme: “Unity in Diversity: A Key to Nation Building.”
The Conference brought about 2,000 Ahmadis to the Accra Zone to deliberate on issues beneficial to the Mission and take stock of their activities.
He said where there was unity in diversity, citizens were able to put aside their differences and channel their combined strength and attention on their similarities to bring success to their country.
“It was safe and right therefore to argue that unity in diversity is a potent tool for national development,” he added.
Dr Mohmammed-Alfa said, “Our country Ghana for instance is a diverse country, with multiple ethnic groups and tribes and we also adhere to different religious beliefs, including lslam, Christianity, Traditional religion and other smaller religious groups.”
He said, to a large extent, Ghanaians had managed as a people to put to the background these differences and focus on the virtues that bind them together.
“We should note that Allah in His wisdom has created all the diversity we see, and we should contemplate and appreciate our differences as opposed to creating barriers and hurdles,” he added.
He, therefore, called on Muslims and non-Muslims to work towards fostering inclusive communities that valued and respected diversity to engender cohesion, harmony and collective well-being.
He said this was the surest way to guarantee sustainable national development, adding that Ghanaians should search and promote common principles, values and hold on firm to those that unite and not focus on differences.
He urged Ghanaians to commit themselves to the promotion of peace, justice and love within communities and show compassion, maintain dignity and humanity toward another.
The National Jalsa Planning Committee Member said, “We should respect others’ opinions and respect the religion and rituals of others, even if you do not believe in them, still give room for accommodating and tolerating them.”
Alhaji Adam Kofi Yamoah, the Greater Accra Regional President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, called on all to co-exist with each other and be at peace with all during the polls in December.
GNA