THE Executive Director of the Proud to be Ghanaian Initiative, Clarence Ankomah has called for appropriate legislature and monitoring policy that will make it an offence for alcoholic beverages to be sold to young people under 18 years in the country. The Proud to be Ghanaian Initiative that seeks to deepen patriotism and healthy lifestyles among the youth was launched last year at Obuasi. The association which also seeks to educate people on positive values that would help them to avoid attitudes that adversely affect the country’s development has expressed regret over the manner in which most youth have taken to alcohol and smoking of late. Speaking to the media at Obuasi, Mr. Ankomah said though there are inscriptions on the bottles of such drinks saying they are only meant for those above 18, that alone is not enough to compel the youth to abstain from consuming alcohol. “Excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages by our youth is seriously undermining the future of this country,” he stressed. He maintained that the high number of riots at the nation’s senior high schools especially during sports festivals were as a result of the excessive consumption of alcohol by students. “Something concrete must be done by government and civil society organizations to check the rate at which our youth are befriending alcohol, smoking and other drugs that have the potential to damage their future.” Mr. Ankomah reiterated his earlier call on law makers to pass a bill that will make it an offence for drinking bar operators, restaurants and other ghetto spots to sell alcohol to children under 18 years of age. “We need to protect the country’s youth to ensure a brighter future for the country,” he said adding, “the future of every nation deepens on vibrant, knowledgeable and responsible youth.” Mr. Ankomah pointed out that a number of emerging anti-social acts such as homosexuality place the youth at a disadvantage. “Now a lot of people including the clergy, chiefs and civil society groups are condemning homosexual practices in the country but that alone cannot get rid of this uncultured behavior in the society.” The executive director said the arguments that there are no laws in existence to punish the perpetrators should make government sit up and design appropriate measures to deal with the menace. He indicated that “the Proud to be Ghanaian Initiative will continue to criticize all forms of human actions that will endanger the future of the youth.” The Communication Director of the Initiative, Albert Nana Asante called on the Ghanaian media to be part of this noble drive “to get our youth out of all forms of undisciplined lifestyles that will bring doom on the country.” He added that his outfit will dialogue with the Obuasi Municipal assembly to take the initiative of developing a bye-law that will debar drinking bar keepers from selling alcoholic beverages to the youth. Source: Daily Guide