Central Regional Culture Coordinator urges students to balance free expression with cultural values

Central Regional Culture Coordinator Wisdom Adomina has urged Ghanaian students to balance their right to free expression with respect for cultural norms, particularly when speaking with the elderly. At the 7th edition of the Central Regional National Public Speaking Competition, Adomina emphasized that while young people have the freedom to share their opinions on national matters, they must exercise caution and use appropriate language when addressing older individuals.

The remarks came amid discussions on freedom of expression and reports of arrests linked to public comments.

Adomina highlighted that the competition, which aimed to improve public speaking and critical thinking skills among senior high school students, was designed to strengthen students' abilities to think critically, articulate their ideas clearly, and propose practical solutions to national challenges. He attributed the decline in these skills partly to the overuse of social media and the tendency of some students to speak in English rather than using Ghanaian cultural language.

Addressing the challenges, Adomina called for greater involvement of relevant stakeholders, including the Ghana Education Service, in future editions of the competition. Three schools advanced to the next stage of the competition, with Swedru Senior High School winning the first contest, Assin Manso Senior High School emerging victorious in the second, and St Gregory Catholic Senior High School securing the final slot.