The Wangara Chief in the Bono Region, Alhaji Mohammed Moctari, has called for a revival of positive traditional and cultural values as part of efforts to address growing indiscipline and promote social cohesion among Ghana’s youth.
He said values such as respect for authority, tolerance and communal responsibility had traditionally played an important role in shaping responsible individuals and cohesive communities.
Alhaji Moctari made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani.
The 61-year-old businessman said the erosion of positive cultural values had contributed to concerns over youth moral decadence, including disrespect for authority, lawlessness and indecent dressing.
He therefore urged traditional leaders, families and communities to reintroduce cultural practices that promoted discipline and responsible behaviour among young people.
He, however, cautioned that such traditions should be carefully selected to ensure that they supported, rather than hindered, the holistic growth and development of the youth.
The Wangara Chief also called on people of Wangara descent to promote peaceful coexistence with people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
He said Ghana’s cultural diversity should be viewed as a strength and not a source of division.
According to him, culture and tradition formed an important part of people’s identity but should not be used to create barriers between communities.
Alhaji Moctari said tolerance and mutual respect could enable people from diverse ethnic backgrounds to live and work together peacefully.
He noted that Ghana and other countries had evolved through civilisation and changing social realities, making it important for different ethnic groups to respect one another’s cultural practices while promoting national unity.
He said building a better society and achieving sustainable development required collective responsibility and cooperation among all citizens.
The Wangara Chief cautioned Ghanaians against allowing ethnic differences and tribal identities to create divisions in society.
He said such divisions would not benefit any group but could instead undermine national development.
Alhaji Moctari maintained that peace and social cohesion were essential foundations for accelerated development and called on traditional leaders, religious bodies, families and other stakeholders to promote tolerance and mutual respect.
He said the preservation of culture should go hand in hand with the promotion of values that foster unity, discipline and peaceful coexistence in a modern society.
