Eastern Regional Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture opens

Nanyo (ER) July, 9, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, says a way to tackle high level of indiscipline and other social vices among the youth were to boost their interest in culture and arts.

He appealed to artistes to use their creativity to sensitize the youth on the negative effects of armed robbery, indiscipline and environmental degradation among others that had engulfed the country in recent times. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said this when opening the 11th Eastern Regional Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture at Nanyo in the Asuogyaman District on Wednesday.

He said a people without culture were a lost generation and it was against that reason that the government attached importance to the teaching and learning of culture at the basic school level. The regional minister said the increase in the Capitation Grant by 50 percent was intended to enhance and boost cultural education. He appealed to the young ones to be encouraged to learn and appreciate the culture of the people of communities they find themselves.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the Regional Coordinating Council would persuade Municipal and District Chief executives to support financially the regional troupe that would be taking part in the National Festival of Arts scheduled to take place in Wa in September. Mr Alfred Osei Kofi, the Acting Eastern Regional Director of Education, said the theme for the festival, "Culture an Epitome of our Moral Values" was very appropriate considering the fact that indiscipline had grown into the very fabric of the society.