Tema, July 27, GNA - President John Atta Mills has stressed the need for Ghanaians to re-define some of the cultural practices in the country.

This, he said, would enable the nation "to win the war against poverty and intensify education on the dangers of social vices which are fast gaining currency in Ghanaian communities." Prof Mills said this at a thanksgiving service organized by members of the Tema Saint Paul's Methodist Church to round off activities marking their Golden Jubilee. The President, whose speech was read by Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater-Accra Regional Minister, appealed to the clergy, traditional authorities, opinion leaders and the media to lead the relentless in educating "our people to seriously consider the negative impact some of these practices have on our society to the detriment of development." He expressed concern about vices such as occultism, cyber fraud which, he said, were creeping into the social fibre and were gaining roots.

"Today the moral antenna of most of our people, especially the young ones, are corrupt, as such they have no shame and will do anything for money."

President Mills appealed to Christians to be apt with their responsibility and train the youth to grow in the fear of the Lord "so that when they become adults they will not depart from the virtues and values espoused by Jesus Christ our Lord." On funerals President Mills reminded Christians that it was significant to take a critical look at the expensive nature of funerals, pointing out that this depicted opulence and not humility, which is a hallmark of Christianity.

The President said it was worrying and regrettable to note that wake-keepings and funerals which were banned by some churches and traditional authorities in the 1990s for being expensive, had, in a few years down the line, become far more expensive. Prof Mills congratulated the St Paul Methodist Cathedral for its immense achievements in the last 50 years, especially in the area of education.

Rt Rev Samuel Achamfuo-Yeboah, Bishop of the Tema Diocese of the Church who delivered the sermon, urged Ghanaians to be selfless, hardworking, and compassionate towards one another. He advised Ghanaians to change their negative work ethics which, he said, affected productivity.

Rt Rev Kow Egyir, Administrative Bishop of the Church, urged the state and the church to compliment each other's role in the fight against excessive traditional and cultural practices.

He expressed concern, for instance, about the extravagant manner in which most bereaved families went about funerals. Bishop Egyir appealed to Ghanaians to reduce not only the number of days used during funeral celebrations, but to also cut down funeral expenses. Goodwill and messages poured in from dignitaries including Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Church; Mr Samuel Abakah, Tema Diocesab Lay Chairman, Mrs Araba Ata Sam, Lay President of Conference and Nii Adjei Kraku 11, Tema Mantse. Nii Adjei Kraku later cut the sod to signify the start of work on a Jubilee House to be built at the premises of St Paul Methodist Cathedral.