Kumasi, Nov. 21 GNA - A four-day workshop aimed at building the capacities of district cultural officers in the Ashanti region to play a pivotal role in the dissemination and implementation on the National Cultural policy, opened in Kumasi on Tuesday. The workshop, which will generally examine the scope of integrated approach to disciplines under cultural education is under the auspices of the Ghana Education Service (GES)

It is also aimed at exposing participants to topics, including the teaching of music, dance, poetry recital, as well as the role of cultural officers in modifying negative cultural practices. Addressing the workshop, Mrs Belinda Serwaah Addo, Ashanti Regional Director of Education urged stakeholders to be proactive in campaigning against negative cultural practices and beliefs to help develop the nation's rich cultural heritage.

She underscored the need to expose the youth to the time-tested cultural values and norms as a means of sensitising them to appreciate their own and cherish their own culture instead of foreign ones. Mrs Addo indicated that such an effort was also crucial for an accelerated development of the Nation since "it is culture that motivates man to strive for perfection in all endeavours in a positive manner."

Mrs Georgina Acquah, Ashanti regional cultural co-ordinator, advocated for the teaching of performing arts in a more realistic manner in basic schools to bring home to students the real meaning and significance of their indigenous culture.

Publishing studies Department of KNUST urged to train more people

Kumasi Nov. 21, GNA - The Department of Publishing Studies of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been urged to train more manpower resources to feed the book and publishing industry to enhance its potential of promoting the country's economic growth. Mr. Elliot Agyare, President of the Ghana Publishers Association who made the call in Kumasi on Tuesday, said the industry which had the capability of turning the economy around, would need to be given a boost in terms of manpower and financial resources.

He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi during a day's working tour of the Ashanti region. Mr. Agyare encouraged Ghanaians to cultivate interest in reading to widen their knowledge whiles also improving their lifestyles.