Certain Cultural Values Need To Be Modified

Former Tourism Minister and Chief of Agomeda Shai, Nene Nakai, privately known as Mike Gizo has lauded the appointment of Dr. Henry Seidu Dannaa, and has asked other chiefs to modify their cultural values and norm to accept persons with various forms of disabilities in society. Mike Gizo has said that 'some people were not born with deformities but it happened to them due to life circumstances', adding that; 'God allowed this appointment to happen in order to change certain cultural values which hinder national development; even though we cannot accept certain modernity in the country'. The National House of Chiefs have come out to endorse his appointment but some chiefs still hold grudge against him and are not in any way prepared to work with the visually impaired Minister-Designate for Chieftaincy and Culture, as they presume it�s a taboo to associate with such person. According to the former Greater Accra Regional minister, taboos differ from society to society, and to him the endorsement from the National House of Chiefs makes him happy. Mike Gizo, who believes in cultural reforms, reiterated that Dr. Dannaa should rather be supported and allowed to bring his experience and ability on board to achieve a common goal in the sector. He stressed that though certain practices and cultural values were adhered to in the past, they no longer existed, and as such chiefs who do not support Dr. Dannaa's appointment could perform rituals to appease their gods. He advised the chiefs to look back into our culture and change certain values which does not support development in this modern era. President John Mahama mentioned Dr. Henry Seidu Dannaa in the list of Ministers in his government but some chiefs have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the visually impaired Minister-designate.