Takoradi, Aug. 30, GNA- Professor George P. Hagan, Chairman of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) has said that the patronage of indecent dressing by the youth would soon be a thing of the past.

He said fashion was only temporary and each generation chose what suits them, but stressed that "this could not erode the cultural and traditional values of the Ghanaian".

Prof. Hagan said these at a day's workshop on the new cultural policy at Takoradi on Wednesday.

He said culture was a very complex thing and the demand for laws to ban such dresses would not achieve the desired results. Prof. Hagan rather suggested that parents and schools should speak against the excesses and with time, the "exposing of several parts of the female body will change".

He said drastic change would be resisted by the various interest groups and would also be difficult to enforce, rather, it must be spoken against gradually and persistently and the desired results would be achieved.

Prof. Hagan said women want to be attractive to the opposite sex and that the current dress styles of the women were only transitional. He called on all Ghanaians to be tolerant, but still draw the attention of the youth to the cultural values and norms of dressing, eating, walking and other aspects of their culture. Prof. Hagan urged the media to develop their cultural consciousness and assist in educating the public on the new cultural policy. He said the excessive use of the English language in all educational institutions must be done alongside the local dialect of the community. Prof. Hagan therefore called on the government to enforce the cultural policy on languages to enable all educational institutions to combine both Ghanaian languages and English in schools and for teaching. Osabarima Kwaw Entsie, Omanhene of the Mpohor traditional area called for the re-packaging of the Ghanaian culture and traditions to enable others to patronise it.

He said many communities have lost their identities including their traditional foods and dressing due either to inferiority complex or general disregard.

Osabarima Entsie urged all Ghanaians to feel proud about their rich cultural heritage and advertise it as much as possible. He said chiefs would have to lead in the crusade of reversing the negative cultural practices in the country.