Bring Back Our Culture And Caning To Shape Ghanaian Youth – Abofour Catholic Church President Urges
The President of the Abofour St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region, Mr. Daniel Oduro, has called on Ghanaians to revisit and uphold Ghanaian culture and traditions, describing them as vital tools that shaped the lives of citizens in the past.
Mr. Oduro said the abandonment of cultural values has had a negative impact on the upbringing of the youth, leading to rising cases of indiscipline and moral decadence.
Speaking in an interview with Noble News he appealed to the government, stakeholders in education, and the Ministry of Education to consider reintroducing caning and other corrective punishments in schools.
According to him, caning was an effective disciplinary measure that helped teachers to shape students and instill discipline, respect and responsibility.
“Caning was a form of discipline we used in shaping our children. We must bring it back if we want to restore discipline in our schools,” he stated.
Mr. Oduro also raised concerns about modern parenting, noting that many parents no longer have adequate time to monitor and guide their children due to economic pressures.
He explained that most parents leave home at dawn in search of money and return late at night, leaving their wards unattended.
“Parents don’t have enough time to monitor their wards anymore because of money. They leave home at dawn and come back late. Their focus is on how to get money rather than shaping the lives and future of their children,” he lamented.
He warned that this gap in parental supervision has created an opportunity for drug addicts to influence and recruit young people into drug abuse, making the fight against drugs increasingly difficult.
“Drug addicts are now taking over our wards and training them. That is why we cannot stop drugs anymore,” he added.
Mr. Oduro therefore urged parents, traditional leaders, government and the education sector to work together to revive Ghanaian cultural values and ensure proper moral upbringing of the next generation.
