[ 2016-11-22 ]

Dispel notion that Moslem communities harbour extremists - Islamic clergy told
Islamic clergy and chiefs have been urged to work
towards demystifying the notion that some Moslem
communities harbor extremists who are capable of
easily fomenting violence.

Reverend Eric Adjei Nmai, a Board Member of the
National Peace Council, said this at an
orientation workshop held recently at Bolgatanga.

Aimed at ensuring peaceful election, the programme
which was organized by the Islamic Foundation for
Peace and Development with support from the United
Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Danish
International Development Agency, attracted the
Islamic clergy, chiefs and the youth.

Reverend Nmai said research shows that it was only
a minority of Moslems who were violent and urged
the Islamic clergy to use their various platforms
such as the mosques to reform the few who would
want to mar the reputation of Moslems.

He said during the Rwanda genocide, some Moslems
played a very significant role by saving the lives
of many people and this act led to many converting
to Islam.

The stakeholders pledged to embark upon peace
talks using various platforms including the
mosque, market place and their homes to educate
the youth on the need to stay away from violence.

Mr Garba Auwudu -Talle, the Executive Secretary of
Islamic Foundation for Peace and Development, said
his outfit has organized similar programmes in all
the ten regions of the country.

He called on the stakeholders to use dialogue and
laid down channels in addressing grievances
instead of resorting to violence.

Mr Rejoice Afadzinu, Programme Assistant of the
UNDP, said the issue of peace and security was
very crucial to UNDP and impressed upon the
electorate not to do anything that would
jeopardize the peace in the country.

'During electoral violence, it is the electorate
who suffer; not the politicians who often escape
with their families to other countries', she said.

Source - GNA

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