Sunyani celebrates cultural festival

Sunyani, April 17, GNA - Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, has said it was important to appreciate ethnic cultural practices to help enrich cultural fertilization.

This, he noted, would bring a unifying factor that could help the pace of the country's reconstruction.

Mr. Ampofo-Twumasi was speaking at the opening of the 6th national second cycle schools festival in Sunyani.

The five-day festival is on the theme, "indiscipline and intolerance in our schools, a challenge to our culture". Mr Ampofo-Twumasi expressed concern about "the dying customs, moribund social practices, ideas and behaviour, which do not portray the country's image positively" and stressed the need for rapid institutional changes in order to modify and reconstruct outmoded social arrangements that did not benefit society.

"This can be done with substantial cultural knowledge by acquiring a correct understanding of contemporary Ghanaian beliefs and practices and to adopt them to the relevant principles needed for developing moral and political ideas as well ads practices for a country like ours", he said.

He said it was important to wear Ghanaian traditional attire on Fridays to promote a high sense of belonging, pride, national patriotism and identity.

The minister cited nations such as Germany, Japan and neighbouring Nigeria that had been rebuilt after great calamities and upheavals through the use of arts and called on Ghanaians to let partisan feelings yield to patriotism through arts and culture.

Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said the country was endowed with abundant cultural values that could be taped for accelerated national development.

He expressed concern about the adulteration of Ghanaian culture particularly among the youth and reiterated the importance to revisit some abundant traditional norms and values that could help instil a sense of discipline.

Nana Kwame Korang IV, Omanhene of Awuah Domase who presided, expressed concern about the use of profane languages and indecent dressing among students.

He called for an intensive study of culture in educational institutions to promote the country's cultural heritage.