HELP COMBAT INDISCIPLINE AMONG YOUTH (PAGE 20)

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has appealed to Christians to support the government and school authorities to combat the increasing spate of indiscipline among the youth.
That, he said, could be achieved if Christians led exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation by the youth, who looked up to them as role models in society.
“As stakeholders in the development of our children, we must co-operate with the government and school authorities to combat the rising spate of indiscipline which has the tendency to retard the progress and development of our future leaders,” he stated.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the appeal at the seventh biennial convention of the Accra Grand Commandery and Ladies Auxiliary Knights of St John International in Koforidua.
The event, on the theme, “Renewing the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood — The joy of living in Christ”, was attended by reverend fathers, supreme officers, supreme subordinate and grand officers, officers of districts and local commanderies and brother knights of the Catholic Church.
Among others, the convention was aimed at fostering a feeling of fraternity and fellowship among members, as well as improving their moral, mental and social well-being.
The regional minister said the world was bedevilled with crises such as wars, hunger, diseases, occultism, lust for material riches, homosexuality and several others.
He particularly expressed concern over indiscipline, which, he noted, had become a serious issue, triggering unprecedented campaigns by various anti-indiscipline campaigners, the government and other stakeholders to nip that social canker in the bud.
He also bemoaned the rate at which filth was engulfing cities, towns, communities and institutions in the country, adding, “If we believe that cleanliness is next to Godliness, then we have a duty to keep ourselves and surroundings clean.”
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo further expressed worry over the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infection among the youth and appealed to the Catholic Church to educate the youth on the dangers of leading irresponsible lifestyles that could predispose them to infection.
The Grand President, Brig General Robert K. Foil, said as part of the charitable obligations of the association for the past 72 years, members had visited and supported a number of orphanages and hospitals to provide hope for the people.
In a message, the Bishop of Koforidua, the Most Rev Joseph Afrifa-Agyekum, asked the members of the association to lead exemplary lifestyles to enable them to become role models in the Catholic Church and society in general.