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RMEJHS 1 • Term 3Topic 15Free Trial Lesson

Manners, Decency, Modesty and Moral Virtues

Master courteous greetings, decency in dressing and speech, honesty, humility, hard work, and avoidance of social vices.

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Visual explanation and practical step-by-step walk-through

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Comprehensive Study Notes

Aligned with Ghana NaCCA & WAEC BECE syllabus standards

Topic Introduction & Real-World Context:

In Ghanaian culture and all three major religions, good manners, modesty, decency, and moral virtues are valued above wealth and physical beauty. Good character (Akan: 'Suban pa') opens doors, earns community respect, and preserves social harmony, while bad manners ('Suban bone') bring shame to oneself and one's family.

What You Will Master in This Lesson (NaCCA Objectives):

Define good manners and explain their importance in Ghanaian society.
Demonstrate proper cultural etiquettes: Courteous greetings, using the right hand, and decent speech.
Explain the virtues of honesty, truthfulness, humility, modesty, and hard work.
Analyze the causes and destructive consequences of common social vices among youth.
Formulate personal moral commitments to live a virtuous, disciplined life.

1. Cultural Etiquette and Good Manners in Ghana

Ghanaian culture places deep emphasis on everyday respectful behavior:
Greetings: The first mark of civility. A younger person must always greet an elder first. In gatherings, greetings traditionally proceed from right to left.
The Taboo of the Left Hand: Never use the left hand to greet, wave, point, or hand an object to someone, especially an elder. The left hand is culturally associated with toilet cleaning. If the right hand is occupied or injured, one must apologize: 'Kafra me benkum' (Excuse my left hand).
Decent Speech: Using courteous words: 'Please' (Mepa wo kyew), 'Thank you' (Medase), 'Excuse me / Sorry' (Kafra). Refraining from shouting, insults, vulgar slang, and backbiting.
Modesty in Dressing: Wearing neat, decent clothes appropriate for school, worship, funerals, or community gatherings; avoiding provocatively tight or revealing clothing.
Key Takeaway: Good manners demonstrate respect, honor, and proper family upbringing.
Real-World Application: Handing bus fare to a trotro conductor with the right hand and politely saying 'Good morning, please hold the balance' illustrates Ghanaian civility.

2. Core Moral Virtues and Shunning Social Vices

Building noble moral character requires practicing virtues and rejecting destructive vices:
Honesty and Truthfulness: Telling the truth regardless of the consequences and refusing to cheat in examinations or trade.
Humility: Acknowledging one's strengths without arrogant boasting, treating others with gracious respect, and accepting correction.
Hard Work and Diligence: Putting in honest, disciplined physical and mental effort; rejecting 'get-rich-quick' shortcuts and cyber fraud (sakawa).
Patience and Self-Control: Resisting impulsive anger, lust, peer pressure, and substance abuse.
Destructive Social Vices: Drug abuse (tramadol, weed, alcohol), teenage pregnancy, examination malpractice, stealing, gambling, and gang violence.
Rewards of Virtue: Peace of conscience, trust from teachers and elders, academic excellence, good community reputation, and divine blessings.
Key Takeaway: True success in life is built on moral character, honest effort, and disciplined integrity.
Real-World Application: A student who admits they broke the laboratory beaker by accident rather than blaming a classmate displays the virtue of truthfulness.
Common Mistakes Students Make in BECE Examinations:
⚠️Assuming using the left hand is only a physical habit with no cultural meaning in Ghana (it is considered a serious breach of etiquette).
⚠️Confusing modesty with being ashamed or poor (modesty means self-respecting moderation and decency in dressing and behavior).
Teacher's BECE Exam Pro-Tips:
⭐In BECE exams, list at least four benefits of good manners to the individual and the community.
⭐Be prepared to explain the cultural reasons why using the left hand to greet or point is offensive in Ghanaian society.
Quick Revision Summary Checklist:
Can explain the rules of greeting and right-hand etiquette in Ghana.
Can describe the importance of decent speech and modest dressing.
Can define honesty, humility, hard work, and self-control.
Can identify four youth social vices and explain how to avoid them.

Step-by-Step Worked Examples (2)

Real BECE exam-standard problems with complete solution steps

Example 1: Explaining the Cultural Taboo of the Left Hand in Ghana
Problem StatementWhy is giving an object or waving at an elder with the left hand considered deeply disrespectful in Ghanaian culture?
Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Historically and culturally, the left hand was reserved for personal biological toilet hygiene, while the right hand was used for eating and greeting.

Step 2: Offering items or greeting with the left hand implies offering something unclean, signaling contempt or deliberate insult.

Step 3: Proper etiquette: Always use the right hand. If the right hand is genuinely occupied or injured, one must apologize by saying: 'Excuse my left hand' (Kafra me benkum).

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Key Takeaway / Exam Rule: Using the right hand for greetings and transactions is a cornerstone of Ghanaian cultural respect.
Example 2: Differentiating Genuine Humility from Low Self-Esteem
Problem StatementExplain the difference between a student practicing true humility and one suffering from low self-esteem.
Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Low self-esteem means believing you are worthless, incapable, and beneath everyone else.

Step 2: Humility is knowing your strengths and gifts but choosing not to boast, demean others, or demand unearned privileges.

Step 3: A humble student works hard, excels academically, yet gladly helps classmates understand difficult topics without mocking them.

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Key Takeaway / Exam Rule: Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less and serving others graciously.
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