Nsuta (Ash) Dec. 22, GNA - Mr Samuel Francis Adjei, Ashanti Regional Director for the Centre for National Culture (CNC), has expressed concern about increasing rate of divorce cases among married young couples in the country.

He attributed some of the causes to the low knowledge of customs and traditions as well as the abolitions of some, especially puberty rites in society.

Mr Adjei was speaking at a puberty rites ceremony organised by the CNC in collaboration with the Nsuta Traditional Council at the weekend at Nsuta in the Sekyere Central District. The ceremony was to outdoor four maidens into adulthood.

The puberty rites known as 'Bragro' particularly performed among the Akans, is meant to usher young girls who have attained the puberty age and have remained chaste into adulthood. The maidens were Akua Dufie, 15, Abena Baafiwaah, 13, Joyce Asantewaa, 18 and Yaa Konadu, 18.

Mr Adjei expressed disappointment that today some young educated girls did not know the art of cooking traditional dishes, adding that this had affected most marriages.

He, therefore, urged mothers to teach young girls how to cook, manage the home, nurture children and how to treat their husbands well. The CNC Director was of the view that the re-introduction of the puberty rites would help to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies and prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including HIV/AIDS.

Reverend John Kyere, Catholic Priest in the area, commended chiefs for helping to bring back the custom adding "tetewobika, tetewobikyere" literally meaning the past has something to tell and show. He recalled past days when young girls and boys, who indulged in sex before the rites and marriage, were banished from towns.

Nana Adwoa Sarfowaa Tutuwaa, Queen of Adako Jachie, near Ejisu, in Ashanti who presided over the function, emphasised that some customs and traditions should be revisited and modernised to enable them play their proper roles in society. She advised young girls to emulate the examples of the four girls and study hard in this age of competition so that they would be beneficial to their families, societies and the country as a whole.