Minister Hanna Calls for Return to Traditional Values

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, has called on communities to return to traditional values, where children and the elderly receive support and protection as a cultural norm.

The Minister, who has portfolio responsibility for children, noted that the modern society has departed from traditional values that once held communities together, and that many parents have left their children to learn “alien” values.

Miss Hanna was delivering the keynote address at the 275th anniversary of the Accompong Maroons Treaty, held on January 6, in St. Elizabeth.

The Minister said that too many parents have retreated from parental responsibilities, and urged all adults to take a stand for children and the wider community.

“In many respects, we have to return to our roots to move forward. We can learn a lot from the Ashanti governance structure that sought to ensure that every member of the community was cared for,” the Minister said.

“We can be guided by the Ashanti land rights, based on communal ownership that provided respect, stability and assurance of inheritance to the youth population. Additionally, young people were initiated in a programme that allowed them to understand such Ashanti values as respect for their elders, self respect, and the transfer of power for the continuation of the struggle,” she added.   

upbringing of the children in the community. The adults ensured that children were free from abuse and that they understood themselves as heirs to the gains of struggle,” she added.

The Minister said the Maroons have taught the nation the Ashanti values of responsibility for children by all adults in the community. “It was the right and responsibility of all adults to engage in the proper upbringing of the children in the community. The adults ensured that children were free from abuse and that they understood themselves as heirs to the gains of struggle,” she added.

“It is my hope that as we gather here to salute Captain Kojo and all those warriors of the past, that we understand that their warrior philosophy was anchored in deep-seated values. These values include of pride in self, communal responsibility, respect for others and commitment to the cause of their nationhood,” Miss Hanna said.