General News of Saturday, 19 April 2003

Source: gna

Ghana lack focus and a common mindset

Mr George Amano-Kyeremeh, Techiman District Director of Education, on Friday observed that the country has not progressed consistently and sustainably because of the lack of focus and a common mindset to determine the way affairs should be handled.

He was speaking at the Ashanti/Brong-Ahafo Regional mid-sector conference of the Scripture Union (SU), which was under the theme: "Will You Also Go?," in Sunyani.

The four-day annual conference (Easter House Party), which was attended by about 300 participants, was aimed at equipping them with the necessary Knowledge and awareness to enable them to withstand spiritual and Socio-economic challenges.

Mr Amano-Kyeremeh suggested the need for unification and documentation Of the country's cultural values.

"There is the need to sit up as a nation and unify and document our culture with all the valued systems, beliefs and aspirations of the people and bequeath them on to our children."

Mr Amano-Kyeremeh said Ghanaians must be made to appreciate the country's cultural values because despite the application of the 1992 Constitution as a legal framework in the governance of the country, "we are still grappling with sanitation, environmental and economic problems."

He said the Constitution and the rule of law alone could not salvage Ghanaians from socio-economic adding that: "Unless we seek divine guidance and directives, the people cannot change for the better."

Mr Amano-Kyeremeh said many Christians had failed in their endeavours due to so many distractions in their lives and called on all and sundry to acquire new mindsets to enable them to realize their goals and aspirations in life.

Mr David Annor Sakyi, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the SU said, "Getting back to God is the answer to our present predicaments because the society is becoming ungodly."

He said most youth had become desperate and frustrated because of misguidance, the lack of proper direction and misuse of opportunities, especially in school, to develop their talents and potentials.

Mr Sakyi noted that the dressing and behaviour of most youth suggested that they had no knowledge about God and His word, "which truly directs our path."

He blamed the situation on too much emphasis on prosperity preaching by some Church leaders instead of teaching the congregation about morality, decent life-style, and failure on the part parents, students and workers to do the right thing.

Mr Amano-Kyeremeh said: "If our churches are now addressing the social desires and needs of the congregation alone rather than directing them to God, then, we are bound to fail as a nation because God should come first in our lives."

Mr Sakyi said though the efforts of the government to reconcile the nation was highly commendable, "we need national repentance before national reconciliation."

The conference apart from biblical expositions and discussions on topical national issues also deliberate on topics such as: Family Life and HIV/AIDS, Communication in Family Life and Family Life and Indiscipline.