Agona Swedru, Aug 30, GNA - The Ameer and Missionary In-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Mualvi A.Wahab Adam, has observed that the current spate indiscipline among the youth could reversed if parents assumed greater responsibility for the upbringing of their children. He said even though the school had a role to play in moulding the character of the youth, it could be a substitute for parental guidance. Maulvi Adma was speaking at the closing of the 26th annual rally of the Lajna Imaillah of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association of Ghana, at Agona Swedru.

He said the upbringing of the youth must be given a greater attention, especially at this time that the country was under the influence of "foreign materialistic and permissive tendencies. "This is why Islam enjoins parents to teach their children both religious and secular education with emphasis on religious instruction provided in the home", he said.

The Ameer said since parents especially mothers, were the first teachers of their children a lot depended on them to provide religious and moral education to their children to prepare them adequately to take their place in the society.

Maulvi Adam added his voice to the call on the government to return mission schools and called on religious bodies, the Ghana National Association of Teachers, parents and the government to discuss the issue thoroughly before a final decision was taken.

The proposed debate he said, should examine the current framework with a view to identifying shortcomings, if any and their impact on the enforcement of discipline in schools.

Hajia Sarah Bosu, Acting President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association expressed concern about the influence of Western culture on young people and called on the mothers to help curb the trend. She said foreign culture had made the youth to indulge in social vices such as drugs addiction, drunkenness, homosexuality and armed robbery, which were retarding the progress of their quality life. She stated as married women they should have patience, tolerance and humility not only to their husbands but also to their relations, children as well as their dependants.

Hajia Bonsu urged the Muslim women to guard against superstition, backbiting, hatred, envy, jealousy, rumour mongering, faultfinding and unnecessary criticism of leaders of religion and politicians.

On the December 2004 elections, the Acting President called on the women not to create enmity and division among party members because "Ghana is the land of our birth and we can not take any other country to be ours," he said.