Avoid dehumanising widowhood rites-women told.

Kwesimintsim (W/R), April 29, GNA- Mrs Angelina Wood, Connexional Women's Division Director of the Methodist Church has called for the cessation of the performance of stressful and dehumanising widowhood rites. She said it was sad that such a negative practice was usually spearheaded by elderly women in their society. Mrs Wood said this during activities marking the 47th annual synod of the Sekondi diocese of the Methodist church at Kwesimintsim over the weekend. She was speaking on the theme "oh! Holy Spirit, establish us in the Lord Jesus for the unfinished task-the role of the Christian women in the church". Mrs Wood said the widowhood rites initially, were aimed at driving away the ghosts of the deceased, but the dimension it has taken nowadays makes the widows emotionally unstable, confused and irrational in their thinking. She said Christians and the church could assist them overcome their grief and pain by visiting, praying, counselling and motivating them. Mrs Wood appealed to Christians not to allow outmoded customs and traditions to continue and that they should take remedial steps to reverse its negative impact. She also spoke about the improper dressing among the youth, which she said should be reverse and urged parents to advice their children on the effects of shabby and provocative dressing.