4 Individuals Honoured By Latter-Day Saints For Promoting Family Values

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints through its National Public Affairs Department at the weekend honoured four eminent personalities for promoting family values in the country at their annual Family Values Awards Night.

The four outstanding individuals were; Mrs Grace Manu, Host of 'Efie Ase Tena' on Atinka TV, Sheikh Yahaya Al-Amin, Founder, Islamic Foundation for Peace and Development, Madam Comfort Bediako, Proprietress of Virgin Kids Academy and Mrs Selikem Acolatse Apaloo, Host of Women's Voice on Ghana Television.

They were therefore presented with a plaque each at the church's headquarters in Accra on the theme: ''Upholding Family Values for a Stronger Nation''.

The Family Value Award is an initiative by the Church as part of its efforts to give recognition to institutions and individuals who had consistently dedicated their resources towards the protection and promotion of family values in the country.

'Efie Ase Tena'' as a TV show discusses family values and how to keep a home whiles Sheikh Al-min's Foundation had over the years championed peace and harmony in the country.

Madam Bediako rescued homeless children by providing with education while Mrs Apaloo also educated women on family values.

Mrs Gifty Twum Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who was the guest of honour in her address called on parents to inculcate good family values in their children saying parents and guardians would live to regret the consequences, if they failed in their duty and shirked their responsibility towards the proper upbringing of their children and ward.

She said the success of children in life depended on the training of the child by their parents in order not to go wayward and called on Ghanaians to extend a helping hand to street children to instil in them good family values.

She said the neglected children on the street might grow up to become armed robbers and prostitutes and engage in other social vices to rummage the society.

'If we do not take care of them they will grow up to be armed robbers and because of them we build our beautiful sophisticated houses and we destroy the beauty by getting too many burglar proofs and all those things there to destroy the beauty of our homes because we didn't keep the family values as Africans, Christians and Muslims.

'Because of that we are scared, when we go to sleep we lock our doors about four times. Why not take care of my family and keep the morals and give a second eye to the other people. Uphold the family values and there will be no streetism, prostitution and waywardness'', she said.

Dr Osei Agyemang Bonsu, Director of the National Public Affairs said the church would continue to recognise organisations and individuals who promoted family values and support suffering children.

Elder Daniel Yirenya-Tawiah, Area Secretary, and West Africa commended the awardees for their commitment and called on Ghanaians to unite and reach out to the needy.

The awardees expressed gratitude to the church for the honour bestowed on them.

GNA
By Thelma Abbey, GNA