Minister criticises profane lyrics

Accra, Sept. 3, GNA - Mr Joe Donkor, a Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, on Wednesday spoke out against profane lyrics and repeated that efforts should be made to discourage musicians who misuse the arts with such songs.
He noted that the negative use of the arts could kill the moral fibre and cultural decency in society.
Mr Donkor therefore called on all music directors and teachers in schools to "convert their students into individuals who are balanced intellectually, spiritually and culturally sound".
He was speaking at the opening of the 25th annual conference of the Ghana Music Teachers Association (GMTA) and the Performing Arts Teachers Association of Ghana (PATAG).
Mr Donkor acknowledged the importance of music in the school curriculum and gave the assurance that government is making efforts to make it one of the essential subjects in schools.
The weeklong conference under the theme: "Ghana Arts Education Policy; Implication for the Total Education of the Child" also marks the first anniversary of the PATAG, which was established to incorporate GMTA as one body.
Over 200 participants from all the regions are attending the conference, which would provide a forum for music and dance educators to present, discuss and critique current issues in music and dance education.
It would also discuss topics such as "The Music and Dance Teacher and Arts Education Policy Implementation", "The Arts Education Policy in Ghana", "ICT and Arts Education in Ghana" and "The SSSCE Music syllabus and WAEC exams".
The teaching of music in schools is now categorised as a non-examinable practical activity making students adopt a lackadaisical attitude towards it.
Mr Donkor said the teaching of music, dance and drama could serve as vital tools in improving the morality and discipline in society, thereby promoting cultural values.
He urged musicians to be mindful of words they use in composing their music, saying we should not copy blindly from foreign sources, which only degrade our values.
Ms Esi Sutherland Addy, a member of the National Commission on Culture, urged the participants to come out with a model that would aid the formulation of the "Arts Education Policy" which is currently being reviewed.
She said the art of music teaching should be made more pleasurable and must cover all the levels of learning from primary to the tertiary level.
The Reverend Michael Ohene-Okantah, President of GMTA, called for the speedy formulation of the music policy to clarify the place of arts in the education of the Ghanaian child.
This would make music teachers regain their morale in contributing their quota in the teaching of music, he said.