Tema, Dec. 28, GNA – The Reverend Professor Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, a former Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has called for a renewed focus on strong family relationships as a foundation for moral discipline and social stability.
Rev Prof Ayete-Nyampong, who is also the Vice President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches based in Germany, made the call while speaking on the theme: “Good Family Relationships” at the PCG Redemption Congregation, Tema Community Nine, during Counselling Sunday.
He observed that significant changes had occurred over the years in marriages, parent-child relationships, schools and workplaces, noting that respect for authority and discipline, which were once central to Ghanaian family and societal life, had declined.
He said children in the past respected elders, but in recent times, young people increasingly challenged authority, citing instances where students assaulted teachers who attempted to enforce discipline.
Rev Prof Ayete-Nyampong said data showed rising divorce rates, stressing the need to critically examine family relationships, as challenges within the family often extended into society.
Drawing lessons from biblical figures, he said the lives of Samuel and Jesus Christ demonstrated respect and obedience to parents, adding that such discipline fostered spiritual sensitivity and prevented indulgence in sinful behaviour.
He noted that Samuel remained focused on God regardless of his environment, contrasting this with the current exposure of young people to negative influences through the internet, mobile phones and social media.
According to him, it was worrying that some young people engaged with inappropriate content on their phones even during church services, instead of concentrating on worship, adding that this partly explained the growing involvement of youth in drug abuse and social vices.
He said if parents desired their children to grow with the favour of God, they must intentionally train them with the word of God, especially in an era where technology exerts overwhelming pressure on the youth.
Rev Prof Ayete-Nyampong observed that many parents focused more on the physical development of their children while neglecting their spiritual growth, noting that a lack of peace in homes had contributed to rising divorce cases, including among Christians who had undergone premarital counselling.
He said such divorces often had long-term effects on children, who grew up without affection and a proper sense of humanity.
He urged families, particularly during the festive season, to reflect on how to strengthen relationships at home and within society, adding that spiritual growth, forgiveness and love, as taught in the book of Colossians, were essential to building healthy families.
He emphasised the importance of clearly defined roles and responsibilities within the family, saying this helped guide individuals throughout life.
Rev Prof Ayete-Nyampong also encouraged open communication within families, stating that children should respect their parents but also feel free to communicate openly with both fathers and mothers.
He said open communication was equally important in marriages and society at large.
He further called on parents to deliberately teach children respect for elders and others, while also modelling trust, noting that mistrust among married couples often filtered down to children and undermined unity in families and the church.
He urged Christians to allow the fear of God to guide their conduct not only in church but also in politics, workplaces and daily life, lamenting that dishonesty, corruption and wrongdoing often emerged once people left the church environment.
Rev Prof Ayete-Nyampong appealed to communities to live as extended families rooted in the fear of God to raise a righteous generation, stressing the need to begin deliberate efforts immediately.
He rebuked parents who sometimes contribute to indiscipline by reinforcing bad behaviour instead of correcting their children.