Mr. Lee Ocran, the Education Minister, has called on the youth to treasure the nation’s rich cultural heritage and avoid being swayed by foreign cultures.

He said they should do everything to maintain their cultural identity and uphold the values of discipline, respect and acceptable moral conduct.

Mr. Ocran said it was to help achieve this that the school syllabus had been so designed by the Ghana education Service (GES) to put emphasis on creative arts as crucial element of national development.

He said this when opening the ninth Senior High Schools (SHS) national festival of arts in Kumasi.

The four-day event is being held under the theme: “The role of our culture in a changing society.”

Participants from all the 10 regions are competing in choral music, drama, dance, choreography, drum language, poetry recital and sight-singing.

Mr. Ocran said it was important to make deliberate efforts through education to assist the youth to appreciate their cultural environment adding that teachers ought to be innovative in the teaching of culture to improve the quality of life of the people.

Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, said the adherence of a strict cultural practices and beliefs could significantly help to promote peace, healthy lives, congenial ecology, improved sanitation and development.

He acknowledged the powerful influence of Information Technology and globalization on the youth and said they needed to be supported and protected from going wayward.

Dr. Agyemang-Mensah appealed to the young people to avoid ruining their future by committing immoral acts and other social vices.