NECODA inaugurated in the Western Region

By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Fijai (W/R), Aug. 30, GNA - Reverend Father Eric Elliason of the Catholic Diocese of the Sekondi/Takoradi has said the nation needed people who are not easily influenced by negative cultures to advance its progress.

He said positive leadership required that people needed to restructure their thought patterns about the different cultures and allow themselves to be influenced positively by them to help build a dynamic society.

Rev Elliason was speaking at the inauguration of the Network for Cultural Orientation and Development Affairs (NECODA) at Fijai in the Western Region.

The event under the theme: 'Self-Discipline and Sense of Co-existence as Platform for community Development', was chosen to highlight the need to advance some positive cultural virtues that promotes peaceful coexistence in society.

Rev Elliason said 'NECODA comes at a time when our cultures are almost dying off, a time in which everything about culture is seen as outmoded and archaic. This Network, I believe, is going to help thousands of people take a second look at the question of culture and how it can help promote development'.

He said there is the need to have cognitive restructuring to re-adopt to communal African values that promoted both societal and individual welfare, the values of belongingness and respect for one another, community and individual support, sincerity and faithfulness, respect for authority, sacredness of sex and marriage.

He said culture was important in the life of every human being and that without culture, the individual's sense of identity becomes shaky and questionable adding, and it's out of culture that the values that shape our lives as individuals emanate.

Rev Elliason said modern man has been brainwashed to accept the falsity of modern culture where unfaithfulness, insincerity, disrespect for authority, profanity, selfishness and egoistic tendencies are treasured.

He said the beauty and attractions of modern culture has imprisoned our minds and cannot lead to individual and societal welfare but to pain, destruction and retrogression.

Rev Elliason said the society needed people who are independent thinkers and are able to express objective truth in light of their cultural values and everything must be done to seek mental freedom to withstand the pressures mounted by the modern culture.

Reverend William Adusei, Coordinator-General of NECODA, said the Network would work in the areas of sanitation and hygiene, positive education and discipline to bring back the lost values of society.

The Network, he said, would work closely with religious bodies, the labour and social welfare department and the Ghana Health Service to enhance community and individual values.

GNA