Enforcement of customary laws guarantee to decent dressing

Adwumakaasekese (Ash), March 7, GNA - An appeal has been made to chiefs to review and vigorously enforce customary laws in their areas of jurisdiction, since that is the surest guarantee to checking the indecent dressing that had engulfed the country in recent times. Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman for the Kwabre West Constituency, who made the appeal said, even though bye laws and regulations from the central government were important, customary laws still had a greater potential in influencing and changing the attitude of people's way of dressing.

Odeneho Appiah made the appeal, when he held separate fora with constituents of Adwumakaasekese, Swedru and Ebom Bomfa on Sunday. The essence of the fora was to further enlighten the constituents about NPP 's government programmes and policies.

The Constituency Chairman said, "chiefs have a greater following and wield a lot of command and influence amongst their subjects, and will therefore be the right people to bring about positive change in the manner of dressing of our people".

Odeneho Appiah stressed that even though customary laws had a greater role to play in bringing about decent appearances amongst Ghanaians, it needed to be supported by rules, regulations and by-laws to make it a success.

He, therefore, entreated the Metropolitan/Municipal/District assemblies to come out with rules and regulations to facilitate efforts of traditional authorities at salvaging the society from the indecent way of dressing.

The Constituency Chairman was of the conviction that, what made Ghana a unique nation was, its rich and envious culture, and this, should not be allowed to be undermined through western cultural influence.

Odeneho Appiah however, noted that efforts by traditional authorities and government to instil some sense of decency in dressing into Ghanaians may come to nought, "if Ghanaians themselves are not poised to embrace and accept to dress in Ghanaian costumes". He suggested that the way should be shown by " our political, religious and opinion leaders, who should endeavour to most often appear in Ghanaian costumes, especially on national day celebrations and public functions.

Nana John Berko, Regent of Swedru lauded the Government for the various projects being executed. 7