Clergyman calls for constant review of cultural practices

The Very Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Head, Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has advocated constant review of all the cultural practices and expressions of the country. He said when a framework is established by evolving certain values, practices and institutions and they gain currency, and they would become thoughts and behavioural patterns, which would condition the lifestyles of people. The Very Rev. Prof. Asante was preaching at a non-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) at the Saint Cyprian Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi on Sunday. The on-going festival, which was being organized at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi, was under the theme "50 Years of Ghana's Cultural Integration and National Development." The Very Rev. Prof. Asante said anything that was worthy of the name culture must be attributed to the glory and honour of God who was the ultimate creator of culture. He said "Culture is intended to promote God's agenda and not any agenda of humankind and in doing this let us pledge our commitment to the God of culture and to use arts and in all things to advance the glory of God." The Very Rev. Prof. Asante said the NAFAC should afford opportunity not only for the celebration of the nation's arts and culture but it must also provide the context for the critical review of "our dynamic cultural bearing in mind that culture exists among other things to bring glory to God." Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, asked Christian to change their minds and attitudes towards the nation's cultural heritage adding that people without culture have no origin. He said because people were moving away from certain cultural practices that had brought about various strange diseases among them in recent times. Mr. Boafo said there was the need for people to appreciate the nation's heritage and avoid certain cultural practices, which hindered development. The Right Reverend Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, emphasized that God had done great things for the nation and there was the need for all to give thanks to him for his continued blessings. There were antirecessionary prayers for the government and the people of Ghana, the success of the Jubilee, the sector Ministry and the planning Committee of the NAFAC and the peace of the World.