Take Pride In Ghanaian Culture – Mrs Gomashi

Mrs Dzifa Gomashi, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has called on the youth to take pride in the Ghanaian culture and be content with what they have.

She said the origin of a people and their makeup was divinely chosen and could not be tailored by mankind to suit their celestial interest.

Mrs Gomashi made the call in an address at the National Senior High School Poetry Slam Championship to mark the world poetry day on Friday.

She told representatives of the 10 participating schools that “Some things are divinely chosen for you, be happy and be content with what you have and also be proud of yourself, your culture and as a Ghanaian”.

Mrs Gomashi advised the youth to strive for improved knowledge and sharpened skills to be able to make prudent and rational decisions in careers, subject to human choices.

She urged students to discover their weaknesses and strengths, and explore the opportunities and threats pertaining to the local environment and apply them to their benefit.

“Beauty and ugly are not important…focus on things that bring strength and identity and can impact on your community and country,” she said.

Mrs Amy Appiah Frimpong, Deputy Executive Director of National Theatre of Ghana told the participants to embrace the culture of poetry since it served as the foundational success of every profession.

She noted that poetry could build the habit and confidence of public speaking and also has the ability to teach the bases of other disciplines.

Mrs Frimpong advised the schools to take seriously, the teaching and learning of poetry, because it manifests in all aspects of the Ghanaian culture, be it libation pouring, speeches, child naming and marriage ceremonies.

The UNESCO proclaimed March 21 as World Poetry Day in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and offering endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.

The Day is also meant to support poetry, return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, promote its teaching, restore a dialogue with other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media so that the art will no longer be considered an outdated form.