Bolgatanga, Sept 9, GNA - The National House of Chiefs has been urged to be proactive in helping to check negative cultural practices that hinder human development and progress. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, made the call when he paid his maiden visit to the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs at Bolgatanga.

Mr Samari expressed regret about the existence of certain negative cultural practices, especially in the three northern regions. "Certain outmoded and negative cultural practices are too dehumanising to the people. Human beings cannot be treated like a beast. With civilization, we need to move forward," Mr Samari admonished, citing widowhood rites, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, cutting of tribal marks and depriving girls of the right to education as some of the practices that must be condemned.

Mr Samari stated that unlike in the past, it was now criminal to engage in some of these negative cultural practices and warned that perpetrators would be made to face the law.

"Our revered chiefs are please requested to take these kind suggestions as a challenge and explore proactive means to get rid of our society of these rather outmoded cultural practices that seek to draw back our clock of development," he said.

The Regional Minister urged Traditional Authorities to help maintain traditional practices that were healthy and worth keeping. These include respect for elders, eating of traditional food, and festivals of the people.