Gomoa Pomadze (C/R), May 4, GNA - Madam Ekua Bediakoh, a mother, has advised parents and guardians to exercise proper and effective parental control over their children.

She said in spite of the socio-economic and moral challenges that families faced, this should not prevent them from adopting the necessary corrective measures to discipline children when they go wayward. Madam Bediakoh was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Gomoa Pomadze, near Winneba Junction. She was optimistic that when parents and guardians took the 'bull by the horn', much would be done to minimize the increasing moral decadence among the youth, especially the teenagers. Madam Bediakoh criticized mothers who due to poverty encourage their female children to practice prostitution at the expense of their good health.

She said such a dangerous trade could make the girls contract various types of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Madam Bediakoh also urged teenage boys and young men to be content with what they possessed and avoid the "get rich quick" attitude, which has now become the order of the day in the Ghanaians society. She called on churches to step up the evangelical activities in every part of the country, to effectively educate the masses on the need to lead lives devoid of acts detrimental to the Christian principles. Madam Bediakoh charged Ghanaians to eschew laziness and greed, and cultivate decent moral values required for building a better society. 4 May 10