NCCE to reinforce civic duties among citizenry
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has begun a programme of action to reinforce a collective sense of civic responsibility, nation-building and democratic governance among the citizenry.
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In line with this, a number of key measures including reaching over 10,000 second cycle schools, as well as other tertiary institutions, among others, have been outlined as part of the Constitution Week
Constitution Week
Other activities lined up for the Constitution Week are engagement, with communities, security services; radio and TV engagements, and Spelling ‘B’ programmes which will culminate in a national dialogue.
Launching the week-long flagship programme in Accra last Friday, the Chairperson of the NCCE, Ms Josephine Nkrumah, said the fact that the Fourth Republic had endured for the past 25 years demonstrated that democracy had taken root in the country.
Referendum
She said since 2001, the commission had commemorated the constitution with celebrations launched on April 28, the date the 1992 Constitution was adopted through a referendum.
Giving the background to the Constitution Week, she explained that what made the 1992 Constitution unique was that while the previous constitutions were promulgated under Presidential assent, the 1992 Constitution was adopted on April 28,1992 by a referendum.
He said the essence of that exercise was that the protection and guardianship of the Constitution was vested in the citizens.
Ghanaian society
Ms Nkrumah said the theme for this year’s celebration,‘’ Restoring the Ghanaian Identity, Our values , Our passion,’’ was apt as politics presently was polarising the Ghanaian society which did not augur well for the sustenance of democracy.
The Deputy Chairperson of the NCCE, Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, said since its inception in 2001, the launch of the Constitution Week and the activities carried out had helped to focus national agenda on issues such as corruption and winner-takes- all syndrome in Ghanaian politics.
Feedback
Mr Akuamoah said the feedback from the community engagement and interactions had helped to reduce tension in the body politic, especially during election years.
He explained that judging by the feedback notwithstanding the financial constraints in which the NCCE was operating, it could achieve greater results for the sustenance of democracy in the country if it was well resourced.
For her part, the Deputy Chairperson in charge of Finance and Administration, Ms Kathleen Addy, expressed the hope that the constitution review would continue to enhance democracy in the country.
Mrs Sylvia Annor, a member of the commission, urged the media to educate citizens on the programmes for the week to enable the commission to discharge its constitutional mandate.