Regional News of Monday, 13 September 2004

Source: GNA

Mfantseman District Arts Committee inaugurated

Anomabo (C/R), Sept. 13, GNA - The Mfantseman District Chief Executive, Mr. Robert Quainoo-Arthur has urged traditional rulers to help to expose and interpret the positive aspects of Ghanaian cultural practices to make them more appealing to the youth and also acceptable to various religious and social organisations.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur noted that: "The rate at which the youth are discarding our culture for foreign ones can endanger our identity as Ghanaians."

He said adulteration of our culture was due mainly to the inability of the people, especially the youth to accept them as relevant to their needs.

The DCE made the call at the inauguration of the Mfantseman District Arts Advisory Committee at Anomabo.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur was of the view that indiscipline in the society would go down drastically if the youth were made to accept and practice Ghanaian norms relating to truth, integrity and hard work. He advised Ghanaians especially politicians to ensure that the Election 2004 was held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Mr. Emmanuel Akortsu, Central Regional Deputy Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), urged members of the committee to work hard to bring back some of the good cultural practices, which had been discarded for foreign one.

Miss Effie Cooke, District Director, CNC, in a welcoming address said a similar committee inaugurated in 1999 did not function effectively because of the sacrificial nature of their assignment and appealed to the new members to give off their best to make culture in the district a showpiece.

The Chairperson of the 14-member committee, Mrs Matilda van-Ess expressed gratitude to the authorities for the confidence reposed in members and gave the assurance that they would live up to expectation. Nana Aggrey, Mpuntuhene of Anomabo, who chaired the function, advised the youth to accept the Ghanaian culture and practice it.