Veep calls for religious tolerance (Pg 3)

Jan 10/01/08

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

VICE-PRESIDENT Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called for religious tolerance in every part of Africa to ensure peace at all times.
He said most of the conflicts on the continent were as a result of religious intolerance and noted that “since we all worship one God but through difference means, we should tolerate each other”.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abuabakar, from Nigeria, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, today.
He said whether political or social, religion had been the major course of conflict on the continent and this cannot be allowed to continue.
Alhaji Mahama, therefore, entreated the most revered non-political leaders on the continent such as the Sultan of Sokoto to use their wise counsel to prevent such conflicts.
He recalled the long standing relations between the people and governments of Ghana and Nigeria and expressed the hope that that would continue to grow from strength to strength.
Alhaji Mahama said the several Nigerians continue to flock the country to invest and that was a manifestation of the brotherly love between the countries.
On the West African gas Pipeline project, he commended Nigeria for being at the forefront of the idea and indicated that the gas would be of tremendous benefit to the participating countries including Benin and Togo.
“This is also an indication of the efforts to enhance the ECOWAS integration process”, he added.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana and Nigeria would continue to make significant impact when it comes to discussing issues of world trade to enable the continent to win.
Alhaji Abubakar who is also the 20th Sultan of Sokoto said it was necessary for Africans to pull their resources together to enable them to grow faster than they were doing now.
He wished the best for the two countries and the continent as a whole in the coming years.