Accra, July 9, GNA- The Kpeshie Sub-Metro basic schools in the Greater Accra region were on Thursday adjudged the overall best in six keenly contested events to mark this year's Accra Metropolitan Directorate Cultural Festival.

The annual event aims at whipping up and sustaining the youth's interest in the Ghanaian culture, featured eight sub-metro district schools competing in choral music, dance drama, sight-reading and poetry recitals.

The persistent cheers from the crowd, including parents and teachers, guests and the pupils, told a story of dexterity and artistic displays put up by the children.

Osu Klottey, Ayawaso, Ablekuma North and South, 5th Garrison, Okai Koi, Ashiedu Keteke and Kpeshie were the sub metros that participated in the event organised under the theme: "Culture: A Bedrock for Discipline".

The event formed part of preparations for the forthcoming national cultural festival to be hosted by the Greater-Accra Region on July 21. Nii Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive in an addressed read for him, observed that the rate at which some parents and their children disregarded Ghanaian culture posed a great threat to the nation's future development.

He said it was disheartening to see the youth of today dressed up leaving parts of their body exposed "without due regard to our culture and yet some parents seemed to overlook the negative repercussions it posed to the nation".

Nii Blankson noted that of late, things that the Ghanaian tradition and culture frowned upon had rather become things that were embraced and adored saying: "Many of our youth now find it fashionable to give things to people with their left hand because the Europeans do it". He said the youth today needed to uphold the tenets of discipline and have respect for authority in order to become responsible and law-abiding citizens.

Mr A. B. Amoatey, Metropolitan Director of Education, stressed the importance of culture saying: "A nation without a culture is a nation without a soul and, therefore, has no history."

He said the adulteration of Ghana's culture by the negative foreign influences should be a concern to all. 9 July 04