The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, on Thursday called on
music producers and the appropriate governing agencies, to ensure that
only good music is put in the public domain to positively influence the
minds of the people particularly, the youth, for accelerated
development.

He said from time immemorial, songs have been used as a means of communicating social, political and environmental issues but regretted that the kind of music people now listen to on the radio and television, only promote immoral behaviour such as sexual promiscuity and disrespect for the elderly.

Nana Arthur, who said this in a speech read for him at the 2nd triennial congress of the Ghana Adventist Choir Union Congress of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Cape Coast, stated that as a result, many of the youth have abandoned Christian standards of living and "are now conducting themselves in a manner which suits them best in the name of modernity".

The five-day congress which is being attended by more than 1,000 choristers drawn from the southern sector of the Church is under the theme; "singing hope to a dying world".

He pointed out that good music did not only give pleasure to the soul but also elevates the spirit and mind, adding that, in some cases people got healed, comforted and even repented, by listening to songs. "The power of music is so great. A debased music on the contrary, turns to destroy first of all the rhythm of the soul and morality", he stressed, and attributed the spate of indiscipline in the society to the obscene songs patronized largely by the youth.

He said it was therefore gratifying to note, that the church has not relented in its efforts to provide the type of music that give hope and urged the participants to be instruments of change in their various communities in particular and the nation in general. Pastor Anthony Kessie, President of South Ghana Conference (SGC), of the church, also in a speech read for him, said as the nation celebrates its 50th anniversary, it behoved on all, particularly choristers, to sing hope to the country and its people.

He pointed out that most people were not aware that the world was "dying" due to the kind of music being sung in society, and pledged that the Adventist choir would do everything to help change the situation. Pastor Kessie appealed to the government to ensure the re-introduction of the teaching of religious and moral education in schools, to help bring some hope to the youth who are the future leaders.