Ghana to set up pilgrimage board – President Mahama
Government is to establish a national pilgrimage board to coordinate activities of all pilgrims of various faiths in the country.
President John Dramani Mahama, who announced this on Thursday, said he had already approved a committee’s report and another committee had been constituted to collaborate with the Attorney-General’s Department to draft a bill for the establishment of the board.
The President was addressing Muslims at the Independence Square, in Accra, during their annual Eidul-Fitri celebration, climax of the one month Ramadan (Fasting) on the Muslim calendar.
Apart from marking the end of fasting among Muslims, the occasion also brought Muslims together for a common prayer to demonstrate love and unity amongst them and their neighbors.
President Mahama said the board when established, would serve all religious faiths in their bid to strengthen their faith in other countries or sectors of endeavour to wean the religious sector from governmental control.
He said: It is my hope that in subsequent years the board will take over all the organizations and arrangements of pilgrimages for the benefit of all Ghanaians,.
Pesident Mahama commended the Turkish Government for supporting the National Mosque project at Kanda, a suburb of Accra and appealed to Muslims to reciprocate that gesture by making maximum use of the facility when completed.
On the Supreme Court verdict, President Mahama said he took an oath on January 7, this year to uphold and defend the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and would, therefore, not engage in anything that would contravene that oath.
He renewed his commitment to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court adding: “The Supreme Court is the creator of the constitution, and we all must accept it as the final arbiter.”
The President said to ensure national unity and peace he would continue to be the guiding principles of governance in his administration.
He commended the Muslims for peacefully co-existing with others, and appealed to them to extend love to others after their one-month religious commitment .
Mr Gado Mohammed who spoke on behalf of Sheik Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, advised Muslims to use the celebration to observe the Muslim virtues of love and humility in all their undertakings.
He appealed to Muslim youth to avoid being used by individuals or organizations to achieve selfish motives.
Source: GNA