Kumasi, Dec 21, GNA - Mr S.F. Adjei, Ashanti Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), has described as unfortunate the harm the emergence of new religioups had contributed to the relegation of some of the very beautiful Ghanaian cultural practices to the background.

He mentioned puberty rites as one of the very important Ghanaian cultural practices, which served as a check on immoral conduct that had been not only been relegated to the background but was virtually extinct.

These were contained in an address read on his behalf at the launching of the Sawaba "Gye Nyame" cultural troupe in Kumasi on Saturday.

The seven-member executive of the troupe has Mr Aziz Musah as its president and is designed to inculcate into the youth the cultural heritage of their ancestors as well as morals.

Mr Lukeman Mohammed, the assemblyman for Adukrom electoral area, said Sawaba had gained a bad reputation as a notorious community due to the activities of Indian hemp smokers and peddlers.

To reverse this image therefore, he said, he and the unit committee of Sawaba will, in collaboration with the security agencies embark on an exercise to rid the community of these miscreants. Mr Mohammed regretted that the smoking of Indian hemp in the community was increasing at an alarming rate among the youth and said the activities of these youth posed serious threats to the peace loving residents of the community.

The activities of these wee smokers and peddlers had dented the image of Sawaba and most people therefore, perceive the community as notorious den of criminals and indisciplined people, he added and said this must be stopped.