The Director of Culture at the Internal Affairs Ministry has admonished Liberians and traditional leaders to respect the cultural values and traditional heritage of Liberia.

Mr. William Jallah emphasized that cultural values should be respected by all Liberians. He said traditional practices should not be politicized, "as Article 5 (b) of the Liberian Constitution states that people should reserve, protect and promote African Liberian culture to ensuring that traditional value reach the compatible policy in national progress."

He made the statement Thursday in Monrovia at an Interactive Forum organized by the Liberia Peace Network on cultural practices in Liberia.

Mr. Jallah told the gathering that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has warned against forceful initiation.

He recalled that a lady in Bomi County was forcibly initiated into the African tradition, something which he said, exposed the culture.

"Before the war, parents were consulted before taking their children for initiation, but today we find lot of bushes found in the act of forceful initiation," Mr. Jallah stated.

He emphasized the need for guidelines to be formulated so that Liberia can have a unique cultural practice.