Parents urged to celebrate Valentine’s Day with
Posted on: Thu 12 Feb, 2009.
Mr Edwin Gamadeku, Volta Regional Director of Department of Children,
on Wednesday called on parents to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day
with their children.
“You should spend time with your children on the Day, show them love through exchange of gifts and other gestures,“ he said.
Mr
Gamadeku speaking to Ghana News Agency in an interview in Ho said this
way, “Children would understand what Valentine’s Day really means and
how it is celebrated in future.”
He said such efforts were
important because the youth over the last few years indulged in immoral
acts during the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Mr Gamadeku said
it was the responsibility of parents to protect their children against
engaging in activities against their interest, adding “parents should
not leave children to their fate during such celebrations.”
He
pointed out that parents have a duty to stay with their children,
occupy them with fruitful activities and ensure they go to bed before
them.
Mr Gamadeku said Junior High School (JHS) pupils should be
given more attention because they are more vulnerable to deviant
behaviours.
“You have to monitor their movements, dressing and the kind of friends who visit them during the day,” he said.
Mr
Ransford Ocloo, Volta Regional Director of National Youth Council
(NYC), advised the youth to behave maturely and responsibly during the
celebration.
He reminded them of the existence of HIV/AIDS and
celebrate the Day with the demonstration of love and not necessarily
through sexual intercourse.
Mr Ocloo counselled them against excessive drinking, saying that it could lead to misguided activities.
Meanwhile,
some churches and other Christian organizations are organising several
love and relationship talk shows in Ho for the youth on Valentine’s Day
to keep them away from street jams and similar night gatherings.
Valentine’s
Day celebration nationwide, over past few years, had been characterized
with sexual activities, some involving minors.
Three years ago, there were reported cases of shortage of condoms in some cities and towns on the Day.
Source: GNA Back
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