Avoid negative acts this Valentine
The youth have been advised to stay away from friends who will lure them to engage in unspeakable acts that can affect their lives negatively as we celebrate Valentine’s Day tomorrow.
The Youth Programmes Coordinator of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Mr Ishmael Selassie, who gave the advice in an interview with the Junior Graphic, asked young people to celebrate the day in the company of good friends and promote positive attributes.
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He said they could use the day to exchange gifts, spend time to assist friends who were weak in certain subjects and take part in clean-up exercises either in their communities or hospitals.
Mr Selassie pointed out that as they enjoy the day, they should bear in mind the health implications of drug abuse, smoking, drinking and also illicit sex.
He said some young people believed that engaging in premarital sex was a way of expressing their love to another person, but explained that it was wrong because as teens, sex would rather expose youngsters to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS and cause them to develop emotional problems later in life.
Mr Selassie asked them not to stay out of the house deep into the night since undesirable things happened to many during that time.
The youth programmes coordinator of the PPAG cautioned that kidnapping was on the increase and the perpetrators could take advantage of the activities of young persons during such celebrations to carry out their despicable acts.
February 14 is celebrated throughout the world as Valentine’s Day.
It is a day to show love to family members and other loved ones.
In Ghana, the day is celebrated as the National Chocolate Day, which is used to promote the country’s cocoa products.