Sunyani, Jan. 5, GNA - The Most Reverend Thomas Ampah-Brient, Bishop of Sunyani Diocese of the Anglican Church, has stressed the need for a law to control media programs so that the Ghanaian culture is not corrupted with foreign ones.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency Bishop Ampah-Brient said some of the advertisements and programs on the national television (TV) network are "very appalling."

He said the campaign against indiscipline "might end on the rocks if we continue to allow such pornographic materials and adverts that are at variance with Ghanaian culture on our national television.''

''The crave for property and materialism continue to reign supreme in the choice of films on our television and this is the source of acts of indiscipline amongst our youth.''

Bishop Ampah-Brient expressed regret that time and again religious bodies had criticized such negative films and programs but surprisingly such programs and adverts continued to be screened.

''Since GTV has only one channel there is no way parents can let such films escape their children and the result is portraying undesirable cultural practices among our youth."

He said culture was dynamic and advised the youth not to adulterate their lives with foreign cultures that appreciated a dressing that was not in line with the Ghanaian culture adding that, "Democracy does not support anything negative."

Bishop Ampah-Brient called on politicians, chiefs, professional bodies and the entire nation to love one another in the years ahead for the nation to maintain its peace.

''We are one people with one destiny and we must continue to live peacefully as brothers and sisters.''

He said there was no government anywhere whose performance could attract 100 per cent acceptance by the governed and appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the government.

''We must leave any decision to endorse or reject a particular government through the ballot box.''

On the proliferation of churches Bishop Ampah-Brient said, "Some of our Christian leaders distort the message" and advised the guilty ones to change for the better.

Ghanaians urged to support NHIS

Berekum (B/A), Jan. 5, GNA - Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, has called on Ghanaians to support the National Health Insurance Scheme for the achievement of the desired goals. He noted that the government's budget for the health sector was not adequate and support from people would help in providing a quality health care delivery system.

The Minister was speaking at the handing-over ceremony of surgical equipment worth 200 million cedis to the Holy Family Hospital at Berekum in Brong-Ahafo.

The equipment was donated by Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Berekum.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor noted that the hospital enjoyed a good reputation not only in the region but in the country as a whole adding that, about 20,000 people have registered for the district's mutual insurance health scheme in the area

"Unless you support the National Health Insurance Scheme by registering to become members, the health budget will not be adequate for health institutions," Dr. Addo-Kufuor said.

The Defence Minister appealed to the people to support the MP "who is quite vocal and excellent in his contributions in Parliament." Presenting the equipment Capt. Effah-Dartey urged the people to help develop the hospital, saying that the donation was being made in the hope that more lives could be saved.

Dr. Marina Meliekel, Acting Hospital Administrator and Dr. Martin Attu, Medical Director, both of the hospital received the equipment.

Dr. Attu promised that the equipment, which included a number of clutches, would be put to good use and appealed for more equipment and the refurbishment of the hospital.