Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, Bonaba Salifu Atamale Lemyarum, has advised decision makers in Ghana to always consider the cultural differences when adopting foreign laws and concepts to be implemented in Ghana.
According to the chief, many of the children’s rights laws and development concepts that have been adopted for Ghana are not compactible with many local cultures and ways of training children, and therefore makes the adherence difficult.
The paramount chief noted that the implementation of the children’s rights laws and insistence of same in schools for example, have to some extend made many children disobedient in schools and very difficult to control at home by parents and guardians.
Bonaba Salifu Atamale Lemyarum was speaking at a Zonal Dissemination Workshop in Tamale in the Northern Region, on the 2017 and 2018 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey findings. The workshop organised by the Ghana Statistical Service in collaboration with UNICEF.
He explained that though Ghanaians are governed by constitution which mandates lawmakers to develop laws for the country, they should always take into consideration the cultural difference between Ghana and the western countries they adopt some of the laws from.
“In fact it’s very clear that there is high rate of indiscipline among children in their various homes and schools. All these attitudes are increasing because there are no rules for parents and teachers to discipline them. The point is that, we have allowed western lifestyle to play deep into our homes and country. If you compare the western lifestyle to that of Africans, there is a vast difference.” He said.
A member of the Peasant Farmers Association and a Youth Counselor, Reverend John Akaribo, believes that the imposition of foreign laws and concepts over local cultures that hitherto protected children and groomed the youth into responsible adults, has led to the rise in cases of indiscipline among children in recent times.
“…because there is no canning in schools, children nowadays do not study nor behave well and this is affecting performance. Many children are performing poorly in their academics because they don’t learn and they cannot be compelled against their wish.” He said.
Mr. Akaribo, however reasoned that if there could be a way to reverse the ban on canning in school, it will help instil discipline in children and keep them in check as they grow.
“In my community, before a child will get up and do something, unless one uses the cane. Imagine the ban on canning now, how are the children going to learn and respect elderly?” He asked.
Source: A1radioonline.com | Moses Apiah | Ghana
