Accra, July 7, GNA - Nii Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Accra Metro Chief Executive, on Wednesday observed that the rate at which some parents condoned with their children's disregard for Ghanaian culture posed a great threat to nation's future development.

He said it was disheartening to see the youth of today dress up leaving their sacred body parts exposed without due regard for our culture and yet some parents seemed to overlook the negative repercussions it posed to the nation.

The Chief Executive said this in a speech read for him at the ninth Basic Schools Metro Cultural Festival, which brought together students and pupils from eight Sub-Metro Districts in the Greater Accra Region to compete in choral music, sight-reading, poetry recital and drum language competitions.

The annual event under the theme: "Culture A Bedrock for Discipline", forms part of preparations for the forthcoming national cultural festival to be hosted by the Greater Accra Region on July 21. Nii Blankson noted that of late, things that the Ghanaian tradition and culture frowned upon had rather became things that were embraced and loved saying: "Many of our youth now find it fashionable to give things to people with their left hand because the Europeans do it..."

He said gradually we were all watching certain vital accepted norms and practices being thrown away such as the telling of "Ananse Stories" that taught us moral and physical courage and the need to tell the truth at all times because of urbanisation and academic pursuits.

Nii Blankson said the youth today needed to uphold the tenets of discipline and virtues like honesty, integrity, truthfulness and respect for authority in order to become responsible and law-abiding citizens sufficiently equipped to develop the nation.

Mr A. B Amoatey, Metropolitan Director of Education, underscored the importance of culture saying: "A nation without a culture is a nation without a soul and, therefore, has no history."

He said the adulteration of Ghana's culture by the negative foreign influences should be a matter of concern for all.

Mr Mike Kuvor, Cultural Coordinator of the Festival, said the event was aimed principally at rekindling the interest of the youth in their distinct cultures, which served as the bedrock for their future growth and development.

He said it was also to unearth the hidden talents of the youth in cultural activities and instil discipline in them.