Accra, May 23, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Tuesday lauded guidance and counselling as the vital tool to assist students to divine the track of making right choices, plans and decisions and to wean them from indiscipline.

Government he said was, therefore, committed to strengthen the process to inculcate a sense of discipline, commitment, dedication, moral values and hope among the youth.

Vice President Mahama made the observation when he inaugurated a 500 million-cedi Counselling and Development Centre at Kanda in Accra, which was applauded by the audience mainly from the predominantly Muslim community in the East Ayawaso Constituency.

The Muslims Family and Counselling Services (MFCS) provided the facility with funding from the Centre for Development and Population Activities and the Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Today the youth of Ghana face daunting challenges and problems. There are many influences in our society, which are lowering the morality of the youth. Parents, teachers and society leaders are failing in discharging their responsibilities in moulding the character of the youth.

"We have reached a stage in our life where we must take positive steps to arrest the situation...and propel them forward into a life of hope, confidence and focus."

Vice President Mahama said the country's educational system had produced many young men and women, who lacked the skills and entrepreneurial know-how to access jobs in the labour market thus making them vulnerable to exploitation.

He said it was in this light that the Government introduced the educational reform programme, which emphasised on technical, agricultural and vocational education targeting the youth between 15 years and 19 years.

Vice President Mahama asked parents and guardians to seriously monitor the academic progress and general conduct of their children and to take timely and corrective action whenever they deviated. The Centre would provide information and education on adolescent reproductive health, with emphasis on the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS and would develop the leadership skills of the youth through training opportunities among other things.

Alhaji Imoro Baba Issah, Executive Director of MFCS, said the non-governmental organisation (NGOs) had pioneered the open discussion and practice of family planning and contraception among Muslims in the country.

MFCS had also trained 180 volunteers as Muslims Community Based Distributors of non-clinical family planning products and 100 Imams and Islamic scholars on reproductive health, including prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Alhaji Issah said the organisation was implementing a one-year project on the strengthening of Community Partnership for Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights in Nima and Maamobi communities. Mr Valiollah Mohammadi, Iranian Ambassador, said the Centre was a symbol of the sincere friendship that existed between Ghana and his country.

He also used the occasion to justify the need for his country to go ahead with the controversial nuclear programme, saying it was transparent and peaceful and based on the country's right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Mr Kholil Ghobad, National Director of ARD, said his outfit spent 25,000 dollars on the Centre. He said ARD was also sponsoring the training of 20 girls in dressmaking and 15 girls in electrical wiring and installation. 23 May 05