By Philip Tengzu/Osman Seidu Nipa
Wa, May 27, GNA – Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, Wednesday urged residents of the region to embrace sacrifice beyond religious offerings by rejecting corruption, selfishness and indiscipline to promote development.
“Today, as we gather in prayer and celebration, Allah is reminding us once again that sacrifice is not only about what we give out, but also about what we choose to stand for.
“It is about choosing honesty over corruption, peace over violence, discipline over recklessness, unity over division, and collective progress over selfish interest,” he explained.
Mr Puozuing made the call in Wa when he addressed separate Muslim congregations during the Eid Ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) prayers at the Jijiereyiri School Park and the Jubilee Park.
He noted that the Upper West Region was at a critical stage of its development and required the collective effort of all citizens, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious differences, to achieve sustainable progress.
The Minister observed that while some citizens were quick to blame political leaders for challenges in society, they often interfered when decisive actions were taken against wrongdoing, criminality and indiscipline.
On youth development, Mr Puozuing appealed to young people to refrain from engaging in vices such as drug abuse, fraud and violence, which could undermine their future and threaten societal peace.
He called on parents, Imams, teachers and opinion leaders to work together to guide the youth towards discipline, integrity, hard work and responsibility.
Mr Puozuing reiterated the Government’s commitment to implementing transformational programmes, including the Big Push Agenda, infrastructure expansion and agricultural modernisation, to improve economic activities in the region.
He also commended the long-standing peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance between Muslims and Christians in the region, urging residents to sustain the unity and avoid hatred, violence and extremism.
Moulvi Abdul Nasir Bhatti, Upper West Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, and Alhaji Mumuni Mankama, the Jami Imam, led the prayers at the Jijiereyiri School Park and Jubilee Park respectively.
Moulvi Bhatti encouraged the public to rise above religious differences and embrace unity, stressing that all believers worship one God.
“When we do so, we will be playing our role in the development of the country and the society we are in,” he explained.
Reporting from Mangu, a suburb of Wa, the Ghana News Agency observed scores of Muslims gathered at the Mangu Methodist School Park to observe the Eid prayers.
The prayers were led by Mallam Huudi Abdul Rahman, Imam of the Mangu Mosque.
In his sermon, Mallam Abdul Rahman explained that Eid Ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering obedience to God when he was willing to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
He, therefore, urged the congregants to demonstrate similar obedience to God in their daily lives.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Philip Tengzu
Email: [email protected]