NCCE not adequately resourced
The Berekum Municipal Director of the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Kofi Adu-Gyamfi Kumaning, has said that the commission is not adequately resourced to discharge its mandatory statutory duty alone.
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He has, therefore, called on all stakeholders, particularly the media, to support the commission in its educational campaign.
In an interview, he said that the NCCE was sensitising and educating the people on the municipality and its environs to live in peace and accept the outcome of the final judgement by the Supreme Court in the pending 2012 presidential election petition.
In line with this, he said that the commission had arranged with FM stations operating in the town to support the NCCE in their education campaign..
The Berekum Municipal Director of the NCCE said that apart from the FM stations, the commission had also identified some communities with information centres, including Kato, Fententaa, Jinijini, Koraso, Akrofro, Domfete, Kutre No.1, Nsapor, Benkasa, Namasua, Senase and Biadan, which had also accepted the NCCE to help in the education and awareness creation drive.
The NCCE Director again indicated that, besides using the electronic systems, the commission had adopted the strategy of also concentrating on some faith-based organisations in the municipality, such as the churches and mosques for the exercise as well as the reliance of identifiable groups, such as political party youths.
He said while he sought permission to preach the message in some of the churches at a particular time, an Assistant Civic Education/Programmes Officer, Ms Mercy Ayiwah Awuah, also took another direction to impress upon the people to uphold peace at all times and accept whatever decision that the Supreme Court should deliver.
Mr Kumaning indicated that as and when the office got enough logistical support, ‘‘We will expand our coverage and we hope the crusade will yield fruitful results.’’
Mr Kumaning, who also spoke on the ‘‘Post-election dispute adjudication/management guide for NCCE staff, said the central premise of the guide was the unavoidability of disputes and differences and the need to embrace differences but ensure they were managed through legal means.
He emphasised that, ‘‘Disputes are good for democracy because through disputes the shortcomings of a democratic system are brought to the fore for redress.’’
Additionally, the guide indicated that, elections were fundamental in all democracies since they emphasised the sovereignty and supremacy of the citizenry, hence the need to manage the expectation of the people, especially the electorate.
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah/Daily Graphic/Ghana