Ve-Koloenu (V/R), March 20, GNA - Ms Juliet B. D. Kumah, Hohoe District Director of Education on Wednesday called for a holistic cultural rediscovery in the school system to uphold firmly the rich and positive values and norms bequeathed the nation by the forebears. She observed that western culture with its negative ramifications, globalization, urbanization and modernity was fast eroding the cultural gains and heritage of Ghana and Africa at large. Ms Kumah made the call at the Senior High School (SHS) Hohoe Zone Cultural festival, which was staged at the Ve Community SHS at Koloenu, near Hohoe.

Ten SHS are competing in drum language, poetry recital, sight-reading, chorals, dance drama and exhibitions show at the festival, which was under the theme: "Promoting Our Culture through Healthy Living".

Ms Kumah lamented that the cherished values and norms which hitherto regulated moral conduct and practice in the society seemed to be at the verge of utter extinction. "Promiscuity, moral decadence, indiscipline, drug abuse and other social vices have eaten deep into the moral fibre of our society", she reiterated.

She was however optimistic that festival of such magnitudes would re-awaken the spirits of nationalism, patriotism and the African personality and again offer the opportunity to build self-confidence in the rich cultural heritage. "It is desirable that as a people, we need to preserve that which we can call and refer to as our cultural heritage and identity." Mr Raphael Gadze, Schedule Officer in-charge of Culture at the directorate said groups who distinguished themselves would be selected to represent the zone at the regional contest, scheduled for July, this year, at Kete-Krachi in the Krachi West district. Competing were, Hohoe E. P. SHS, Akpafu, Likpe, Saint Mary's Seminary, Afadzato, Leklebi, Alavanyo Secondary-Technical, Have Technical, Ve Community and Logba SHS.