Nkawkaw, Feb. 14, GNA - The Director of the Ramseyer Training Centre (RTC) at Abetifi, Rev. Amfo Akonnor, has urged churches to ensure proper and effective nurturing of the youth for them to become assets to the country's socio-economic development.

This, he said, would also enable them to become responsible adults to take over from the ageing adults to ensure the future survival of churches.

Rev. Akonnor was speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Kwahu Presbytery Young People's Guild (YPG) at Nkawkaw on Sunday. He said since the present youth were more endowed than their parents, the churches and communities were expecting responsible leadership to resuscitate hope and life for development in the communities.

The RTC Director called for proper guidance for the youth in their formal education including Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and vocational training for them to be gainfully employed in future.

He advised the youth to undertake environmental education in the homes, schools and communities and also intensify their campaign against environmental hazards such as bush fires, illegal felling of trees, illegal mining, water and air pollution.

The National Recorder of the YPG, Mr George Larbi, expressed concern about indiscipline among the country's youth and urged the churches to bring back the Presbyterian discipline in the schools to reduce the high rate of immorality among the youth.

He pointed out that Valentine's Day celebration was not meant for sexual promiscuity and drunkenness and urged the churches to educate the youth about the origin and purpose of the Day.

Mr Larbi cautioned the youth against allowing themselves to be misled by some misguided individuals to defy their educational authorities and government officials for their selfish gains but to concentrate on their studies to become responsible adults.

The Presbytery Superintendent of the YPG, Brother Jonathan Odehe, urged them to adopt positive behavioural change to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS.

According to him, HIV/AIDS was no more a health issue but developmental one, which had the potency of negating all the good efforts of the government if the youthful and productive population was infected.

Mr Odehe urged the youth to co-operate with the church to eschew all social vices like drug abuse, rape, tax evasion and drug trafficking to reverse the trend of indiscipline in the society. In an address read on his behalf, the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, advised the youth to abstain from pre-marital sex and concentrate on their studies to become responsible future leaders.