Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, Chief Imam
Muslims across the country have been asked to look out for the crescent on Friday, June 27, 2014 to herald the commencement of this year?s Ramadan fasting.
The call was made yesterday during a press conference following an earlier deliberation on the subject held in Takoradi by a team of Islamic clerics drawn from across the country called the National Hillal Committee.
The venue for the annual religious meeting to decide on which date to look out for the crescent and other issues of national interests rotates between the regional capitals; last year it was held in Sunyani.
Friday, June 27 corresponds with the 29th day of Shaaban, the month preceding the month of fasting, Ramadan.
The National Chief Imam with the support of the National Hillal Committee announced the important date yesterday through Ustaz Gazali, an Islamic cleric from Tamale.
Should the crescent not be sighted on Friday for the commencement of fasting on Saturday as it happens sometimes in the lunar calendar, Sunday, June 29 automatically becomes the first day of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting on which all Muslims who meet the criteria for the religious exercise are enjoined to undertake the month-long fasting.
At the Takoradi conference as it is the tradition, issues of national importance were deliberated upon and the decisions arrived at were captured in the communiqu? released during the press conference.
Ghanaians were called upon to ensure peaceful coexistence between members of the various religious faiths.
The Islamic clerics called on the authorities to ensure that nobody is prevented from performing their religious obligations since after all religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution.
They therefore asked President John Mahama to have the Ministry of Education direct the Ghana Education Service (GES) to implement the directives on religious freedom in schools.
The call was informed by reports about Muslim students not being allowed to perform their religious obligations in some schools across the country.
Parents and Ulaama were told to inculcate in their children the tenets of Islam so they grow up into responsible Muslims.
By A.R. Gomda
