Nsein (W/R), Sept. 26, GNA — The Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) has called for the need to preserve our cultural heritage and shun the influence of negative foreign cultural practices.

Mr Michael Kpingbi, the Acting Western Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Authority, who was speaking at the durbar of the chiefs and people of Nsein Traditional Area to climax the annual Kundum festival, said the youth should resist all forms of “cultural adulteration”.

He said that as part of activities to mark the World Tourism Day on September 27, the GTA has organized tourist clubs to join in the celebration of the Kundum festival and to help spread the information about the tourism Day.

Mr Kpingbi called for the establishment of a common festival in the region that would be known as “Family Festival” which would enable all the various ethnic groups in a given region to come together to celebrate and promote unity.

He said the celebration of our culture provides the platform for development planning and called for repackaging the various festivals in the region to attract more tourists.

Mr Kpingbi said “we should consciously strive towards sustaining the relative peace that prevails in our societies by using legitimate means to put across our grievances.

He advised the youth to shun social vices such as armed robbery, drug abuse, prostitution and homosexuality