The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, says the fact that the celebration of this year’s Easter season coincided with the observation of the holy month of Ramadan, is a clear message from God on the need to cherish, protect and keep the unity that exist between Christians and Muslims in Ghana.
Speaking at the forecourt of the Jubilee House, today Thursday 21 April 2022, where he joined the Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and several other Muslim faithful, to observe IFTAR or futoor (the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset), Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, said the people of Ghana have every reason to be thankful to God for the unity in the country inspite of the diversity of opinion and religious creed that prevails in the nation.
Commending his fellow Muslims for making it a point to fast and observe one of the most special periods on the Muslim calendar, the Vice President said “this particular year, it is even more special because we had the occasion where the Ramadan coincided with Easter and coincided with the Passover.
“For us, it is a very interesting coincidence but may be God is trying to tell us something, all of us, in terms of humanity. There is a message in there for us. I am sure not withstanding our diversity, that we are all looking up to that one creator, that one God, the one Allah”.
“We are very thankful for this particular blessing and we need to cherish it… that we are diverse as a people, but in Ghana, as the Chief Iman has said, we are very blessed” the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said.
The Vice President further noted that Ghana is “by the Grace of God, the most peaceful country in West Africa, the second most peaceful country in West Africa”. This he says did not just happen and that the very fact that Ghanaians live in a country where all the different religions, especially, Muslims and Christians, get along so well”, largely accounts for peace associated with life in Ghana.
“We take it for granted, but other countries, when they come here and see how we interact, how Muslims go to churches and celebrate Christmas and even enjoy it more than the Christians…. and that Christians visit the Muslims and eat the Salah rice and meat very much more than the Muslims…. we have harmony and that is for me, part of the secret to the peace we have in Ghana” Dr Bawumia said.
COVID-19 abated
In his address, the Vice President noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslims have not been able to pray the Eid as was the tradition, at the Independence Square, prior to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country. However, due to the efficient management of the pandemic in Ghana by government, this year’s Eid he says, will be celebrated at the Independence Square.
“We prayed for COVID to end, it hasn’t quite ended globally, but we have seen it reduce very significantly”. “Yesterday I looked at the data and we have 29 cases in the whole of Ghana. So this particular Eid which is coming, because of the issue of COVID which has abated by the Grace of God, we will be praying id at the Independence square this year” the Vice President said.
Global peace
National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu in his message read on his behalf by his Spokesperson, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, prayed for God’s protection for President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and for the entire nation.
He asked God to grant Ghana peace within her boarders and to extend same to all other parts of the world where there is war or the threat of it.
Guest attendance
Clergymen who were present at Jubilee House for the IFTAR included Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, the retired Parish priest of Christ the King Church, and the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Dr Paul Frimpong Manso.
Ministers of State as well as some members of Diplomatic Corps, where also in attendance.
Ramadan explained
Ramadan is the Arabic name of the ninth-month of the Islamic calendar. The date of Ramadan in the Gregorian calendar moves forward about 11 days each year due to the different lengths of the Islamic and Gregorian years.
It is considered one of the holiest Islamic months. It’s also one of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are five principles that Muslims believe are compulsory acts ordered by God. It is during the month of Ramadan that Muslims fast.
Muslims believe that some of the first verses of the Islamic holy book, the Qu’ran, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. Extra emphasis is placed on reciting the Qu’ran at this time.
The Fast of Ramadan lasts the entire month, which can be 29 or 30 days, depending on the sightings of the moon. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation.
Fasting is considered to be an act of worship, which enables Muslims to feel closer to God and strengthen their spiritual health and self-discipline. During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims.
They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which means “festival of breaking the fast”, marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the next lunar month, Shawwal.
This day is declared when the crescent new moon has been sighted or if sighting of the moon is not possible due to the weather. Eid al-Fitr marks the completion of 30 days of fasting and is celebrated across the Islamic world with public holidays lasting for several days.
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