By Jerry Azanduna, GNA
Techiman, (Bono East) March 05, GNA – Mr Joseph Torbezere Yakubu, the Bono East Regional Marketing Officer of the Center for National Culture (CNC) has called on the government to adequately resource the CNC to promote and preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.
“CNC is the legitimate government arm mandated to promote and preserve the country’s cultural heritage, yet it has been under-resourced, disallowing it to perform the mandate effectively”, he stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Techiman.
Mr Yakubu said the government ought to relook at the present condition of the CNC if the nation desired to preserve her culture and tradition which reflected the true Ghanaian identity as the nation observed the heritage month.
Also known as the Ghana Month is the period observed annually between March 1 and March 31, to promote the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Mr Yakubu said as a state institution, the CNC required adequate funding to showcase cultural heritage, citing that the upsurge of moral decadence and act of lawlessness being experienced in second cycle institutions were partly due to the adulteration of the nation’s culture.
He expressed worry that the current crop of youth was being influenced by cultures alien to the typical Ghanaian society, saying that culture remained the way of life of the people and more ought to be done to preserve the diverse Ghanaian culture heritage.
“The CNC wishes to promote and preserve typical Ghanaian marriage, dances, food and dressing through the conduct of regular cultural activities but is unable to do so because of lack of resources”, Mr Yakubu stated.
He cited that storytelling served as one of the cultural components that promoted discipline and shaped the minds of people, improving morality and uprightness, saying that with adequate resources, the CNC could change the minds of the youth from wrong to right.
“In fact, if the CNC is well-resourced, we will create common platforms that will encourage people to wear locally made products, and eat locally prepared dishes”, he stated, saying that doing so would further create more job opportunities and income generating ventures.
Mr Yakubu said as part of activities to mark the Ghana month, the CNC was collaborating with the various traditional councils in the region and to organise traditional foods exhibitions in the region.
Besides, he said traditional talent hunt shows would also be organised for schoolchildren to showcase their talents in culture and tradition.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Kenneth Odeng Adade