Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the Takoradi Ghana Stake Center

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On 11 April 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Takoradi, Ghana, hosted over 2,000 Muslim neighbors at the Takoradi Ghana Stake Center to observe this year's Eid Festival. The Eid festival celebrates Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the breaking of the fast. It is one of Islam’s most holy days and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and great reverence. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Church has made its facilities available to their Muslim friends for this celebration.

Four years ago, the Church was made aware that the Muslims in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis did not have access to a large enough facility to accommodate the all the celebrants expected to attend the festival. The Presidency of the Takoradi Ghana Stake offered the grounds of the stake center for the important celebration, an offer gratefully accepted by the Muslim leaders.

During the festival, the 2,000 celebrants joined together in prayer to bless their communities and fellow Ghanaians of all faiths. This year, the prayers were led by Imam Muhammad Awal, the Chief Imam of Takoradi, assisted by his deputy, Chief Imam Alhaji Ibrahim Umar. He prayed for peace in the nation as this year is an election year in Ghana.

Attending the celebration was the Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for the Takoradi area, the Honorable Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah. In his message, he called for unity among Christians and Muslims.

“I ask you all to preach for peace and for a better life for all Ghanaians,” he said.

Several Muslim chiefs of the various traditional tribes in Takoradi also joined in the Eid al-Fitr celebration. In attendance was Chief Muhammad Abubakari, the Dagomba Chief, and Imam Abdul Rashid of the Hausa community. Takoradi Police Commander, Chief Biney, was also among the guests.  

Representing the Church of Jesus Christ was President Emmanuel Botwe, first counselor in the Takoradi Ghana Stake. President Botwe welcomed all of the guests and pledged that the Church would continue to collaborate with their Muslim friends.

"This is the culmination of many years of working with our Muslim friends," said President Botwe. "We attend each others’ meetings, our youth groups work together, and we partner together for the betterment of our community. When they needed us for the festival, we were there."

There are 6 million Muslims in Ghana, representing 20% of the population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extends warm Eid greeting to all of its Muslim friends throughout the world.

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