The US Embassy in Accra is providing 20 Muslim households in need with a one-week food supply during the month of Ramadan.
This is in keeping with Zakat or charitable giving, Mrs Stephanie S. Sullivan, US Ambasador to Ghana has stated in a message to Muslims on the commencement of fasting in the month of Ramadan.
She said the donation was to help some of the more vulnerable members of the Muslim community break their fast.
But for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which requires everyone to observe social distancing protocols, Mrs Sullivan noted that she and members of the embassy team would have loved to fete the beneficiaries in person.
While thanking the Ghana Islamic Education Unit for making the donation possible, the US envoy wished Muslims her heartfelt congratulations.
“I truly wish members of my embassy team and I had been able to do this ourselves in person but I hope you will understand the need to maintain social distance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
“On behalf of US Embassy community here in Accra and the United States Government, I wish all Muslims in Ghana good health, safety, and blessings.”
Mrs Sullivan also used the occasion to wish the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who turned 101 years a happy birthday.
She described the National Chief Imam whose contribution to peace in Ghana and beyond and received global commendation as an “inspirational advocate of religious tolerance.”
Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar in which Muslims of sane mind and good health observe 29 or 30 days fasting depending on the siting of the crescent.
Fasting is a soul purification exercise that cleanses believers of their sins.
The fasting Muslim is obliged to abstain from backbiting, fighting, argument and anger.
The overarching goal of fasting is not the obligation to stay away from food and fleeting pleasures of the flesh, but more importantly, for the Muslim to get closer to Allah (God) and to obtain contentment.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
