Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tetteh Enyo, says a nation without laws and good moral values is not only in danger but could head into chaos. “A society without good moral values is bound to decline and eventually collapse. Our society today is crying for discipline… in order to be able to move the country towards development,” he said. In a speech read on his behalf by the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Mahmud Khalid at the opening of the 11th Basic Schools National Festival of Arts and Culture in Wa, the Education Minister remarked. The three-day festival, on the theme: “Culture, an epitome of our moral values” involved school children from all ten regions. Mr. Tetteh-Enyo said the Ghanaian culture is an embodiment of a great deal of moral values and therefore, urged people to be disciplined. He noted the increase in the Capitation Grant from GH¢3.00 to GH¢4.50 is a manifestation of Government’s commitment towards the promotion, development and preservation of cultural values among other equally important educational programmes. He, therefore, urged all to view the festival as a unifying force of all ethnic groups in the country and also as a means of achieving national unity. Mr. Tetteh-Enyo was quick to add that obsolete cultural practices that are detrimental to the nation’s progress should be discarded. “Let us use education to help identify all useful and progressive cultural practices, customs, traditions and values that would aid and move the country toward development,” he urged. Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Kale Cezar, added that time has come for people to stand against negative cultural practices but encouraged Ghanaians to cherish those that impact positively on their lives. He urged Ghanaians to bear in mind the old adage that says, “He who tears the garment of honour wears the mask of disgrace”. Mr. Cezar noted that respect for indigenous traditional laws and institutions that helped unite people and ensured peaceful co-existence has faded, resulting in the weakening of our traditional systems. He advised the youth against hard drugs, premarital sex, teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, which all impact negatively on their education. Source: GNA