Kwabena Agyemang-Badu, Nkoranza District Director of Education has called on teachers to attach great importance to the teaching of cultural studies to guide the youth. He said most of the youth preferred foreign cultures, "but we must be proud of our culture since that is what God has given us, which makes us different from other people". Addressing parents, teachers and students of Akuma and Nkwabeng circuits at the zonal cultural festival for basic schools at Akuma, the District Director urged the youth to respect local cultural practices and not to take delight in embracing anything foreign. Mr. Agyemang-Badu commended the chiefs and elders of the area for their heavy attendance at the festival, saying such an attitude would encourage the teachers to give off their best to the children. He appealed to religious authorities not to regard the observation of cultural practices as fetish, explaining that before Christianity was introduced in the country, the people already had their cultures. He said eight primary schools and seven junior secondary schools participated in the festival, which was under the theme, "Culture - a tool for peaceful co-existence". The pupils participated in choral music, poetry recital, drum language and dance drama. Source: GNA