Impart cherished values to younger generation- Defence Minister

Kumasi, Sept. 13, GNA- Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence said on Friday that the elderly in society must impart the cherished social values to the younger generation.

He said honesty, patience, courage and determination are some of the values that guided our forefathers to prosperity.

These were contained in a speech read for him at the 21st National Rally of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Organisation, which opened in Kumasi.

The two-day conference has the theme "Preparing the Future Generation for National Development, The Role of the Muslim Elders". The Minister said as elders, we have a duty to provide both moral training for our children to be God-fearing and honest. Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, noted that with proper orientation and right attitudes, politics, ethnicity and religion can be potent tools for national development.

He said people should not sacrifice unity and peace the country now enjoys on the altar of ethnicity, politics or party politics. Maulvi Wahab Adam said the elders would be failing the nation if they deprived the youth of their rich experience adding, "elders should provide guidance and leadership to the youth".

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister said the country has reached a stage where all energies were required to be put to the wheel for resuscitation of the economy.

He said the aged has contributed their quota towards its development noting that without them, Ghana would not have reached where it is now.

Mr Boafo, however, regretted that the youth have looked down on good social values admired by the aged and instead resorted to vices, putting their lives at serious risks.

Mr Boafo expressed the hope that the conference will discuss these issues dispassionately to enable them to build a better Ghana. Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempemhene who deputised for the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, asked Muslims to continue to pray for peace and stability in the country.

He commended the Ahmadiyya Mission for its efforts to promote education and health care and assured them that the Asantehene was solidly behind them.

There were fraternal greetings from the Anglican and Catholic Dioceses of Kumasi.