Lack of patriotism militating against country’s devt — Gomashie
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Dzifa Gomashie, has observed that the lack of patriotism among some Ghanaians is militating against the accelerated development of the country.
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She observed that lack of commitment coupled with cynicism could not build a country and, therefore, called on Ghanaians to demonstrate the spirit of patriotism in whatever they did to move the country forward.
Ms Gormashie made the observation at the unveiling of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana billboard at the National Museum in Accra.
It was under the auspices of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana and in partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
The occasion was also used to drive home the need to keep the country clean and safe at all times.
Ms Gormashie said there was the need to inculcate the unique cultural and traditional traits in the architectural designs of buildings in the country.
According to her, such a practice would not only promote the country’s rich culture, but also attract tourists into Ghana, stating, “The diversity of our culture is one way to celebrate this country.”
She also urged artistes such as musicians and painters to advance the cause of the country by showcasing Ghanaian values and traditions through their works “rather than helping other cultures live through us”.
The minister further observed that by so doing, “foreigners would be forced to travel hundreds of thousands of miles just to experience our way of life as a people rather than coming to find an extension of what they already have in their countries”.
Ms Gomashie, in an analogy, expressed how she had no control over her gender choice, who her parents were and from which country she came from and, therefore, said it was thus imperative to find ways to appreciate and celebrate her divinely chosen origin.
Sanitation
Touching on health and the environment, she called on law enforcement agencies, particularly the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), to ensure the strict enforcement of their laws to deter people from becoming environmental nuisance. “It is only when there’s a punitive measure for wrongdoing that the right will always succeed,” she emphasised.