MP suggests ban on "apuskeleke"

Accra, June 21, GNA-As part of the measures to arrest negative foreign influence on Ghanaian culture, a suggestion was made in Parliament on Tuesday for laws to be enacted to ban indecent dressing in Ghana and on-the-spot fine imposed on offenders.

Mr. Stephen Kunsu, Member for Kintampo North Constituency, in a statement on adulteration of Ghanaian culture, said indecent dressing among some Ghanaian ladies in the name of adopted foreign culture, rather fuelled immorality.

He condemned dressing that were not considered culturally correct by Ghanaian standards, and observed that ladies' display of the voluptuous bodies in full glare in the kind of dress called "I am aware" signified an intentional exposure of their femininity.

Mr Kunsu said other areas of cultural adulteration were found in names, eating habits, music and dance.

He indicted scholars and radio presenters who mix both English and local languages when speaking.

Mr. Kunsu urged Ghanaians who were fascinated by foreign cultures to be original. "In order to extricate ourselves from this precarious situation, of excessive copying, Ghanaians must realize that a bad practice once habituated never goes away by itself, but do it yourself approach" Mr Kunsu said.

He added: "What we need is intestinal fortitude to internalise our cultural values".

He called for the re-introduction of Civic Education as a complete subject in the school curriculum, as well as a Curriculum Enrichment Programme, adding that the Centre for National Culture should be strengthened and well resourced to function effectively under a theme of " Cultural Renaissance in Ghana."

Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo NDC Member for Wa Central, in reference to Japan, said Ghana must indegenise adopted foreign, and called for the establishment of cultural identity in Ghanaian products. In a related development, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, read a statement to mark World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, 2006.

He observed that the refugee population in Ghana had dropped form over 60, 000 last year to just over 50,000 due to the favourable conditions negotiated in the countries of origin of the refugees.

Mr. Kan Dapaah, who is also the NPP Member for Afigya Sekyere West noted the natural desire for the maintenance and sustenance of peace around the world, but was however, continually elusive , which resulted in the many conflicts that the world encountered.

Mr Kan Dapaah said the refugee situation was a struggle for survival and for the acceptance by those on whose door they knocked, and noted the Ghana's efforts, under President John Agyekum Kufour alongside other Heads of States in the West African sub-region, which had chalked some success at solving conflicts on the African Continent.

Contributing to the statement, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, NDC Member for Lawra Nandom, said handling of refugee was a human rights issue, for which the law must be used to properly handle refugees, and advocated a humane handling of refugees in their environments.

Mr Kojo Armah, CPP Member for Evalue Gwira, urged African Governments to work at preventing conflict situations that made citizens refugees in other countries.

Mr Lee Ocran NDC Member for Jomoro, called on refugee to obey the laws of they countries in which they found themselves, expressed worry over increasing numbers of economic refugees. He said they went through pathetic situations of traveling long distances, and called on governments to improve economic situations and employment conditions.