Traditional values offered the best moral
standards
Traditional values offered the best moral
standards
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2000
Alhaji Amadu Seidu, NDC-Yapei/Kusawgu, on Wednesday said if Ghanaians do not safeguard useful traditional values, all the dirt that come with modernity will find fertile grounds in the society.
"When we convince ourselves that whatever the black man practices is evil and inferior to the white man, we run the risk of doing what we have no idea of," Alhaji Seidu, also deputy minister of Works and Housing, was speaking in support of a statement on the AIDS epidemic delivered in Parliament by Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minority Spokesman for Health.
He said AIDS could not have survived on the Africa continent some generations ago because Africans did not countenance immorality.
Alhaji Seidu lashed at television stations that promote sexual immorality, which are normally well packaged to lure the youth.
Prostitution and pre-marital sex especially, among minors is prevalent because of the growing individualism among Ghanaians.
"We should also look at our almost forgotten extended family system, which in its most desired form, provided security for all members of the family."
The member abhorred the "miracle and healing" phenomenon now taking over the original purpose of religion, which emphasised moral uprightness and asked all to help in the government's poverty alleviation programmes to lessen the "poverty" excuse given by those caught in the sex trade.
Mr Kojo Armah, CPP- Evalue Gwira, whipped up political and legislative support for the fight against HIV/AIDS and called for free medical support for AIDS patients as well as including them in the vulnerable bracket.
Dr Addo-Kufuor had expressed concern about the way people still perceive the disease. He called for intensive education programmes to spread the anti AIDS message to all.
Earlier, the House almost gave up proceedings because as at 1048 hours only 33 members out the 200 were in the chamber.
Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, NPP-Asokwa West, called for a halt in proceeding because the house lacked a quorum. At least one-third (66) of all members of Parliament besides the person presiding make up a quorum.
Squadron Leader Clend Sowu (retired), NDC-Anlo, said it has become the habit of members to stay in the foyer of the House even when proceeding commence and asked for a solution to that problem.
Alhaji M. A. Seidu, Deputy Minority Leader, pleaded with the House to allow for 10 minutes by which time members in the foyer would have entered the chamber.
Mr Ken Dzirrasah, First Deputy Speaker, who presided, expressed concern about the habit being cultivated by members but urged the House to accommodate the situation for proceedings to continue.
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