Family Futures

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dvancing

ocial

ntegration

and

ntergenerational

olidarity

aspiring to marriage, married couples and children under the

church’s Family Life Enrichment Programme, and promote

families’ access to quality education and health services. The

multi-complex facility will include a women’s centre for

vocational and entrepreneurial skills development. In this

direction, the church has acquired a 16-acre plot of land at

Apra in the Central Region of Ghana. Conscious efforts are

being made to secure external partnerships and support to

bring this laudable project to reality and reach a catchment

area population of over 10,000. This social and economic

empowerment of the people, with a special focus on family

and marriage, has gained the interest and support of the local

chiefs and traditional authorities as well as decentralized

government authorities. They all have pledged their commit-

ment to the successful implementation of this initiative.

ADP is also encouraging families in its operational areas

to share experiences and opportunities through network-

ing and collaborative efforts. These are being done through

joint family retreats, counselling, mentoring, community-

based activities and creating opportunities for regular church

worship and family devotions. It is gratifying to note that

these initiatives are yielding good dividends as these fami-

lies are now building the confidence of their children for the

responsibilities of adult life. Fathers and mothers are better

able to respond to their love for each other and work towards

the peaceful resolution of domestic conflicts.

In the midst of global and national economic challenges,

negative external cultural practices that destroy family values

and other unsupportive macroeconomic and social policies

and practices, there is hope for the future.

There is a need for families to form strategic friendships

and alliances with and among each other for intergenerational

solidarity. For the past 20 years one of the Abbey families in

Accra, also known as the Mount Pisgah family, has adopted

an intergenerational solidarity with eight other families in

parts of Ghana as a network for various forms of support,

growth and development. These eight other families are also

impacting on the family lives of several other families and

couples aspiring to marriage. It would take an eternity to fully

appreciate and evaluate the multiplier effect and impact of this

intergenerational solidarity. If only thousands more families

would engage in this worthy exercise.

It is time to adopt new strategies to meet the new challenges

threatening the existence of family structure and relations.

This is not just about policy reforms but, importantly, the

need to re-enforce existing good family values and virtues.

It is the candid opinion and belief of this writer that every

energy and resource available must be mobilized to promote

and enhance what true family stands for. Families with or

without children must be recognized and supported.

There is a need to look at laws that regulate marriage within

the traditional and cultural, religious and ordinance settings.

These should be made more proactive and supportive. Equally

important is the need to look at all the factors that militate

against the family structure and cohesion, and therefore provi-

sions must be made for both structured and unstructured

support for the family. Family centres should be considered and

established at local community level to provide professional

care for stressed families. Social work and social workers must

be backed up with adequate legislature and resources to offer

professional support. It is not just about new policies; it is also

about new implementing strategies.

The father, mother and any children need each other.

Therefore unfettered love and deep spiritual links must

continue to be the strong cords that bind the family. The family,

in its truest sense, will continue to be the key to social cohesion,

social development, social justice and economic growth.

Ghana and the global community cannot afford to destroy

the place, function, benefits and blessings of marriage and the

family. The International Year of the Family 2014 is another

welcome opportunity to support and strengthen the sanctity

of marriage and the family.

The traditional and cultural practices, strong commitment and religious beliefs that have held Ghanaian families together are now under threat

Image: ADP