President John Dramani Mahama has called for honesty, restraint, and a genuine commitment to public service among leaders, saying Ghana can not build the society it aspires to without strong moral leadership.

The President made the call on Monday evening at the Jubilee House, where he hosted members of the country’s Muslim community for an iftar to mark Ramadan and break the fast together.

Drawing on teachings from the Quran, President Mahama said the discipline of fasting goes beyond a religious obligation and reflects the values that should guide those entrusted with public office.

He cited Quran Chapter 16, Verse 19, noting that Allah commands justice, excellence, and generosity while forbidding immorality, bad conduct, and oppression.

“These are values that strongly resonate with our national aspirations to reset our country’s path, restore integrity in governance, and build a more just and prosperous society,” he said.

President Mahama noted that Ramadan encourages empathy for the less privileged and reminds society of its responsibility to support the vulnerable. He said the spirit of generosity associated with the holy month was already evident across the country, with Islamic organisations and individuals providing food and other forms of assistance to those in need.

The President also commended Ghana’s Muslim community for its contributions to national development in areas such as trade, scholarship, and public service. He paid special tribute to the Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, and the Islamic clergy for their role in promoting peace and unity in the country.

According to him, Ghana’s longstanding tradition of religious harmony is the result of a shared commitment among citizens to understand and respect one another rather than allow differences to create division.

He noted that Christians and Muslims, despite their different beliefs, are guided by similar values of love, compassion, and forgiveness.

President Mahama also called for prayers for people affected by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, saying hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have grown beyond a regional issue and now have global implications.

He expressed hope that Allah would touch the hearts of those involved and bring relief to those suffering from the conflict.

The President ended the gathering with prayers for Ghana and its leaders before leading the participants to break the fast.