Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has used the occasion of Eid al-Adha to appeal for global peace. He urged Ghanaians to pray for peace in Bawku (Ghana), Sudan, and wherever conflict was raging, like Ukraine and Russia. 'Let us walk together in hope and never forget that Ghana belongs to all of us and not just a few,' President Mahama stated in his address during the national Eid al-Adha prayers held at the Blackstar Square in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama emphasized that Eid al-Adha was not only about the physical act of sacrifice, but also about compassion, sharing, and community. He highlighted the importance of dividing the sacrificial meat into portions for family, friends and neighbors, and the poor, underscoring the spirit of Islam, generosity, social responsibility, and love for one another. He urged the celebration to be an opportunity to reach out to those in need, not just with food, but with kindness, support, and presence of mind.
The President also addressed the financial burden of Hajj on many Muslim families, acknowledging the high costs despite efforts to reduce them. He assured that the government is working closely with relevant agencies and Saudi counterparts to potentially lower Hajj fares in the future, attributing optimism to the recent strengthening of the cedi. He noted that if the Muslim pilgrims who went to Hajj this year were going at this time, the Hajj fare would be something like GH?45,000.
Additionally, President Mahama announced the preparation of a Bill to designate Eid al-Fitr as a public holiday, which would soon be presented to Parliament. He emphasized the recognition of the spiritual importance of Eid al-Fitr in Muslims' lives, stating that once the Bill is passed and receives Presidential assent, it will become law.
In educational initiatives, President Mahama has directed the Minister of Education to engage with the Islamic Education Unit to strengthen its operations and expand the recruitment and training of qualified Arabic instructors. This aims to ensure that Arabic education is no longer marginalized and that Islamic schools have the necessary resources to thrive. He also announced the resumption of work on abandoned infrastructure projects at the Al-Faruq College of Education in Wenchi, positioning it as a critical institution for training professional teachers within the Islamic education framework.
Furthermore, the President instructed the Director-General of the Scholarship Secretariat to develop a dedicated support program for Muslim students pursuing advanced studies in disciplines such as medicine, law, ICT, engineering, and social sciences. This initiative is part of the government's broader equity agenda to empower all segments of Ghanaian society to contribute meaningfully to national development.
