Accra, June 11, GNA - Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture on Monday launched a cultural awareness month aimed at sensitising and educating Ghanaians on the importance of national cultural heritage for the development of the country. The Cultural Awareness Month slated for November under the auspices of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) would be used to project the Chieftaincy institution, cultural values, traditional medicine, architecture, rites of passage and Asafo companies to give meaning to Ghanaian socio-economic and political life that distinguished Ghanaian culture from others.

Mr. Boafo explained that the annual event would also portray the Ghanaian personality at workplaces, Parliament and all other political and social functions.

"We expect to see Ghanaians dress in their colourful textiles, smocks and what have you...it would be nice to see journalists, parliamentarians, workers, teachers, school children smartly dressed in Ghanaian textiles to showcase to the world their rich cultural heritage. "This is one way to promote made-in-Ghana goods, to provide employment opportunities for our people," he said. The Chieftaincy Minister noted that during the period, a series of outreach programmes would be organised through the media as a show of solidarity to encourage Ghanaians to reflect on the objectives of the Cultural Awareness month.

He said; "all Ghanaian restaurants would also be encouraged to offer their clients with delicious Ghanaian cuisines...every Ghanaian is a stakeholder."

He urged the public to contact the Ministry with proposals and contributions to ensure that the novelty becomes a major festival on the nation's calendar.

Answering Journalists' enquiry at the media launch, why the Minister was in European suit at the launch of a cultural awareness occasion, Mr. George Addo, a Director at the Ministry, who was similarly dressed in suit, explained that the Minister was billed to attend the official swearing in ceremony of the Chief Justice-elect, Mrs. Georgina Wood at the Castle, hence the European suit, considered more appropriate for that occasion.