To entrench the democratic development of the country, the National Development Planning Commission(NDPC) is advocating for the promotion of good societal values among citizenry.
Speaking at the 9th National Development Forum organized by the NDPC under the theme: “Societal Values and National Development: Consolidating the Gains”, the Director General of the NDPC, Dr. Kojo Mensah Aborampa emphasized on the need as a country to promote good societal values.
Adding, this act can contribute to the country’s socio- economic and democratic development.
“The objective of this forum is to discuss pertinent issues in the country. We have identified social values as one of the pertinent issues for the development of our country and we need to transform this country through innovation and the application of good societal values for the advancement of the country” he noted.
Therefore Dr. Aborampa called on the citizenry to make societal values a priority as it helps in shaping the lifestyle and mindset of the citizenry positively.
On his part, Dr. Charles Wiafe Akenten, a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology of the University of Ghana, who delivered the key note address, bemoaned the falling standards of values in the country.
According to him, Ghana’s dwindling societal values is the result of the dwindling of the socio-economic development of the country.
Stressing, “Ghana is among one of the few African countries doing well with inter- marriages, but has fallen short of it’s societal values.
Therefore, we need to consciously work on our value system using the religious groups and civil society organisations” he noted.
Emphasizing on societal values, Dr. Akenten opined that, they are very relevant for any country as it serves as a guide or framework in achieving a particular developmental agenda.
Adding that, it is the reason corporate institutions now have these values displayed in their offices to create a positive societal value awareness to the public.
The psychology Lecturer therefore called for strict adherence of our societal values to contribute to the development of the country adding that a country without a solid values system is an endangered one.
Taking her turn at the public forum, the Chairperson of the National Commission on Civic Education(NCCE) Mrs. Josephine Nkrumah called for the inculcation of values into our school curriculum to help restore our values as a country and make it meaningful for the development of the country.
According to her, values are supposed to be at the core of our actions and inactions adding that lack of it is the result of lawlessness, crime, corruption and the glorification of mediocrity which she described as counter-productive to the country.
The NCCE Boss further disclosed that the Singapore’s example of teaching values in schools is a shining one hence the need for it to be replicated in Ghana.
The religious bodies were not left out as the former Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Dr. Aboagye Mensah called on religious leaders to focus their messages more on values to help promote it amongst the people.
Noting that, democracy, governance for that matter values started with Christianity hence the need for religious leaders to play a significant role in that regard.
The Forum was graced by notable personalities including the Chairman of NDPC, Prof. Stephen Adei and Head of Psychology Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com/ Ishmael Barfi/ senghana@gmail.com
