Vice-President John Dramani Mahama addressing muslims at Eid ul Adha.
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The Vice-President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama has bemoaned the smuggling of arms and ammunition into Bawku to fuel the conflicts in the area and cautioned persons behind the act to desist from the practice as it threatens peace and security in the area.
Mr. Mahama also said government would investigate the Human Rights abuses of residents of Bawku by some Military men, in order to get the full facts of the incident, and bring to book those found culpable of the offenses.
His comments comes on the heels of the outright public condemnation that greeted the alleged naked stripping of two suspected gunmen in Bawku and the gang-raping of a 19-year-old apprentice in Nalerigu by some soldiers.
He was speaking at this year’s Eid ul Adha at the Independence Square in Accra. Present at the function was former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
Eid ul-Adha, also known as "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid", is a holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Three white rams and a bull were slaughtered to symbolise prophet Ibraham’s special sacrifice whiles special prayers were said for the President, the entire government machinery and the nation.
Vice-President Mahama called on the teeming Muslim community in Bawku to use the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha to reflect on the numerous conflicts that has plagued the area by asking themselves if indeed “the Bawku they want” is what they have now.
He urged Muslims and Northerners to “prioritise the education” of their children to secure a successful future for them and the nation as well.
On his part, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, urged Ghanaians to shun negative attitudes and practices. He said God has blessed Ghana with many minerals and now oil, so the recently discovered oil should not be politicized but should be well managed for the benefit of all Ghanaians. He thanked Government for helping to ensure that the 2009 Hajj was a success.
