Kete-Krachi, July 30, GNA - Mr Douglas Koranteng, Krachi West District Chief Executive, on Tuesday called for cultural re-awakening and integration into the national psyche to promote cohesion, unity and uniqueness. He said borrowed cultures especially those from the western world resulting from technological advancement, globalization and urbanization continue to affect the cultural and social nerve centre of society to almost oblivion. Mr Koranteng said this when he opened the 2008 Volta Regional Festival of Arts and Culture for Second Cycle Institutions at Kete-Krachi.

The five-day event is under the theme, "Promoting Our Culture Through A Healthy Living" with participating schools competing in choral music, dance, drama, sight singing, drum language, poetry recital and exhibition of artefacts. Mr Koranteng said a national re-orientation to rediscover the rich cultural heritage bequeathed society was paramount if accelerated development was to be achieved. He urged major stakeholders including the government, traditional authority, Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to remain focused in maintaining and sustaining the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage. Mr Koranteng appealed to the youth who have just turned 18 years to register to exercise their franchise in the December general election. Mr E. P. Sracoo, Krachi West Director of Education, said the inclusion of music, dance and culture as integral part of the school curriculum has far reaching benefits to pupils and students and society at large. He said cultural norms and values remained the only integrated sum total of behaviour traits that have been learnt, manifested and shared from one generation to another, which needed to be sustained.