The aspiring member of Parliament for the National Democratic Congress,(NDC) in the Nhyiaeso Constituency, Dr Samuel Sarpong has in an act of generosity donated bags of sugar, sleeping mats and an undisclosed amount of cash to two Muslim groups in Nhyiaeso.
Accompanied by the constituency Chairman, Charles Afayam and some party faithful, Dr Sarpong joined the Kaase and Sokoban group of Muslims to pray and worship at their various mosques last Friday.
Being the first week of the 30-day Ramadan fast as declared by Muslims across the world, the State Housing Company Manager decided to participate in the sacred act.
MOTIVE:
Addressing the Imam and congregants at the Kaase mosque after their special Friday prayers, Dr Samuel said since the Ramadan fast was a sacred act he decided to join in the prayers.
He explained the fast is used to purge one’s self from sin and also to request things from God.
These two things, he added was needful for human kind, insisting it was that which pushed him to join.
ADVICE:
Dr Sarpong, a former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly,(KMA) and a former Ashanti Regional Minister used the occasion to admonish the youth gathered at the mosque to abide by the principles of Islam and urged them to refrain from acts violence and crime.
According to him, many would come to entice them with money since this year was an election year to foment trouble, but encouraged them to reject such offers.
Rather, he urged them to use their strengths for gainful ventures that will benefit their families, community and the society at large.
He reminded them Ramadan was not an ocassion to pile up the sins of others and to unleash terror on same after its completion.
He noted it was an ocassion to forgive others and to make peace with all.
SECURITY SERVICES:
In a passionate tone, Dr Sarpong urged the security agencies in the country to continue to deal with crime especially those related to elections.
This, he said, was the only way people can live peacefully in the society even as the country prepares for the upcoming election later this year.
But, in a complete departure from what the Inspector General of Police,(IGP) had said to disband political party vigilante groupings, Dr Sarpong recommended the training of such groups by the Police administration.
This training, he argued could be done by the Police in collaboration with the various political parties to help them regulate the activities of their members.
According to him, each party knew its internal security men and could be properly trained and accredited by the Police to man the polling stations on election day so as to forestall the attempts of some unscrupulous thugs who invade election centres during voting day.
PRAYERS:
At the request of the aspiring NDC candidate, Sheikh Mohammed Sualeh, Chief Imam at the Maxjid-Ul-Rahman mosque, Kaase, prayed for peace for the country ahead of the upcoming general election.
He also prayed for the peaceful conduct of all political party activities in and around the country.
Later in an inteeview with the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper, Sheikh Sualeh called for decent speech and conduct by all political heads.
This, he emphasized was the surest bet for peace since party members mainly acted on the dictates and conduct of their leaders.
