Parliament calls for responsible behaviour on Valentine Day

Accra, Feb 12, GNA- Parliament on Wednesday called for responsible behaviour, especially among the youth, ahead of this year's Valentine Day on Saturday, February 14.

Mrs. Angelina Baiden Amissah, NPP Shama, who presented a statement on the floor of the house in connection with the day, said the intensity of the publicity and related activities to mark the day were such that "one finds pupils of Junior Secondary School (JSS) institutions line up at gift shops to spend their meagre pocket moneys on cards which bear amorous inscriptions."

"Activities to mark the day includes dance and disco entertainments, sale of alcohol and sometimes, hard drugs all of which promote unbridled sex and promiscuous behaviour."

"Mr. Speaker, our nation is confronted today by the scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which is wrecking havoc among the most productive segments of our national population, and the least we could do is to support actions which discourage promiscuity and immorality....," she said.

Mrs. Baiden-Amissah said what was of special concern was the manner in which some of the FM stations and print media literally "encourage and lure every body including young people towards activities which promise nothing but vanity."

"Many apologists, sometimes even adults, refer to our fundamental freedoms. In this direction however, the responsibility of the state and its agencies to ensure that the exercise of freedoms do not lead us into a socio-cultural catastrophe... the exercise of freedoms ought to be done responsibly to foster national development and well-being."

"Mr. Speaker, there are many ways in which we could turn the manner of celebrating "Valentine's Day" around to reflect positive moral conduct; and I believe this House has a role to play in that direction," she added.

Mrs. Agnes Sonful, NPP-Amenfi West, associated her self with the statement and said although the Catholic priest around who Valentine was celebrated had good intentions for the day.

She said, today however, reports indicated that the sale of condoms went up during the celebrations, pointing to promiscuity.

She said the day should be observed in doing good deeds and helping the needy.

Mrs. Cecilia Gyan Amoah, NPP-Asutifi South, said businesses were exploiting the day to promote their businesses and called for greater efforts to bring sanity into the celebrations.

Mr. E.T. Mensah, NDC-Ningo Prampram, questioned why the increased sale and use of condoms on Valentine Day should be a matter of concern since this should rather be a pointer to the fact that messages on condoms use was going down well.

Mrs. Comfort Owusu, NDC-Mfanstiman East, said the message of morality on the Day should also be directed at married couples too and not only the youth.

Capt. Nkrabeah Effah Dartey (rtd), Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the churches and district assemblies should get involved in organising meaningful programmes for the youth on that day to occupy them.

Miss Akua Dansua, NDC-North Dayi, urged men not to entice innocent girls into any form of promiscuity on that day.