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18.02.2013 Social News

Parliament urges media to promote Ghana's rich values on Saint Valentine's day

By GNA
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18.02.2013 LISTEN

Accra, Feb 15, GNA - Parliament on Thursday urged the media to redirect the focus of the Saint Valentine's Day celebration to promoting the cultural values of Ghana instead of propagating foreign ways that corrupted the moral fiber of the society.

The legislators argued that such events had served as a conduit for promiscuity, alcoholism and other societal ills among the youth that brought unpleasant consequences on the nation and appealed to the media to encourage Ghanaians to show love and compassion to the vulnerable, sick and the needy.

The lawmakers were contributing to a statement made on the floor of parliament by Mrs Della Sowah, MP for Kpando, to draw attention to the outcome of the endorsement of the event by the media.

The Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is observed on February 14 each year and is celebrated in many countries although it remains a working day in most of them.

The day, which is associated with romantic love, has evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, confectionery and cards.

But the essence of the event has over time been corrupted by business concerns that have conceptualized the day to make gains, targeting particularly the youth with the allure of love and sexual gratification.

Ghana however has rebranded the day 'Chocolate Day' to draw attention to the health benefits of consuming the cocoa derivative and to encourage its consumption.

Mrs Sowah said her interaction with most teenage mothers in her constituency revealed that they almost always gave birth about nine months after the celebration of Valentine's Day and that even teenage parents in very deprived communities without electricity related the event to the expression of love between the opposite sexes.

She said the media had glamorized unfaithfulness in relationships, extra marital affairs, teenage affairs, sugar daddies and dysfunctional families that characterized western soap operas, leading to moral decadence in society and the negation of the time-honoured values and traditions of the country.

The MP urged the media to be selective in providing entertainment to the youth and society at large and to censor programmes that that are unwholesome.

'The media and stakeholders should demonstrate love for the nation and our rich values', she said.

Mr Justice Joe Appiah, MP for Ablekuma North, said the day should centre on the consumption of chocolate and that all programmes that promoted promiscuity in the media should be curbed for the society to maintain its moral fiber.

Ms Ursuala Owusu,MP for Ablekuma West, said it was unfortunate that the media had focused on sex for profits and called for modesty in marking the day, saying that love was good but sex should be reserved for marriage.

Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, MP for Madina, said Saint Valentine would turn in his grave because of the negative impact the celebration had had on society and stressed the need for the media to focus the day on promoting good Ghanaian values and the consumption of Ghana's rich and dark chocolates that is more beneficial to the country.

Ms Adjoa Sarfo, MP for Dome/Kwabenya, said that love signified unity, peace, sweetness and kindness and called on Ghanaians to use that event to show love and compassion to the defenseless and sick in society who need attention.

GNA

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