�Teach Couples Parenting Skills�

Some years past, the family was an important institution which held the pillars of society together. Children learnt the values, norms and principles through family members to help shape their behaviour for the good of the society. However, in recent times, the family has been disintegrating into smaller units with less values and principles leading to social disorder in the country. It is with this background that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has called on churches to make a conscious effort to teach young parents how to bring up their children. �We have to periodically gather young parents and teach them on parenting skills; teach them how to communicate with their children, and the language to use for the children to learn and appreciate the values that make us Ghanaians,� she said. She made this statement when she addressed a gathering at the International Family Day Celebration in Accra. The celebration organized by Emerald Productions on the theme, �Advancing Social Integration and Inter-generational relationship,� coincided with the UN International Family Day Celebration. Mrs Lithur said because of the current socio-economic situation the country is experiencing, young parents were losing their parenting skills. �Young fathers and mothers have to go out and look for money so they do not make a conscious effort to train up their children in the way they should go,� she said. The sector minister observed that children who were often left to access the internet with no restrictions made them vulnerable to people who might be dangerous to them. �They can even be chatting with pedophiles and you will not be aware because we do not have time for them,� she said. She therefore lauded the organizers for the initiative to focus on the family and its influence on society. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emerald Productions, Irene Zakpa, said the event was to create the forum for family matters to be discussed in order to set the agenda for the family. She said if parents would commit to the family first and train their children properly, bad behaviours in the society would be reduced. �We think that the family is the important basis of society and so if families are strong, we will have a stronger society,� she said. She however called for financial support from other well meaning Ghanaians and organizations to extend the programme to other parts of the country. Resource persons in family matters were present to interact with participants on family issues.