The initiative, supported by GIZ, is being implemented under the theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption.”

Speaking to Adom News in Kenyasi, the District NCCE Director, Reverend Robert Collins Annam, noted that many young people in the district show limited interest in governance issues, which he described as a threat to local development.

“The programme aims to empower the youth to hold leaders accountable and play an active role in demanding effective service delivery,” he explained. “When young people begin asking the right questions and monitoring the performance of duty bearers, development in the district will be accelerated.”

Daniel Oduro, a principal investigator with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Asutifi North, also expressed concern over rising corruption levels in the country.

He emphasised the need for intensified public education on the dangers of corruption, noting that it continues to hinder Ghana’s progress. “We all have a role to play in the fight against corrupt practices to ensure meaningful development,” he urged.

Source: Sammy Asare

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She made the remarks at a youth engagement programme on “Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption” organised by the NCCE Oforikrom Directorate, with support from GIZ and the European Union (EU).

The event brought together 50 young people from the municipality to equip them with practical knowledge on the rule of law, civic rights, and legal frameworks that promote accountability and transparency.

Ms. Owoo noted that despite attempts by successive governments to tackle corruption, it continues to undermine progress.

“Corruption has a ripple effect on our economy and society. It denies citizens access to quality education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other essential services,” she said.

She identified common forms of corruption such as bribery, nepotism, embezzlement, extortion, facilitation payments, and fraud, urging participants to resist engaging in such practices.

She further stressed that fighting corruption requires grassroots involvement, calling on young people to be ambassadors of transparency and accountability in their communities.

Chief Superintendent Fred Hammond, KNUST Divisional Police Commander, reminded participants to balance their civic rights with civic responsibilities as outlined in the 1992 Constitution. He urged them to report wrongdoing in their communities and work with law enforcement to prevent crime.

Mr. Charles Alex Quainoo, Chief Investigator at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the Ashanti Region, educated the youth on the Whistleblowers Act (Act 720), describing it as a powerful tool for exposing corruption. He explained that the law protects whistleblowers from victimization while empowering them to disclose acts of impropriety.

Source: GNA

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The programme, which was instituted in 2012 and forms one of the flagship initiatives of the Commission, provides a unique platform for accomplished personalities to educate young Ghanaians on civic responsibilities, national identity, and active citizenship.

It also offers mentorship that inspires, guides, and contributes meaningfully to national development.

The celebration, under the theme “Ghana’s Future: The Role of the Ghanaian Child,” acknowledges children not just as beneficiaries of national policies but as active participants in the country’s development.

Speaking at the Creative Ambassadors Montessori School in La to officially launch the week-long celebration, Madam Paulina Mensah, Director for Social Welfare and Community Development at the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, challenged the students to work collaboratively in shaping a Ghana defined by unity, honesty, and integrity.

She emphasised the need for children to live responsibly, noting that their choices today will influence their future. She also admonished them to uphold truth, resist examination malpractices, and act with integrity in all aspects of life.

Touching on core Ghanaian values, Madam Mensah urged the students to be patriotic by serving and loving Ghana, tolerating the views of others, working together to build peace, following school rules, keeping the environment clean by avoiding littering, and rejecting all forms of academic dishonesty.
“Cheating in exams today undermines leadership tomorrow,” she stated.

For his part, Mr. Emmanuel Mettle, Director of the NCCE in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality, underscored the need for students to live by Ghanaian values to enable them to become responsible citizens who contribute their quota to national development.

He also expressed his gratitude to Madam Mensah for accepting the invitation to be part of the celebration.

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Mr. Emmanuel Mettle, NCCE Director at the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality, made the call during the launch of the Annual African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week held at the Salvation Apostolic Church in La.

He emphasized the importance of embracing all forms of vaccination as a proven means of protecting people of all ages from preventable diseases.

Mr. Mettle encouraged members of the congregation to take full advantage of the essential child health services provided by the Ghana Health Service to enhance their health and survival.

He further urged the public to actively participate in vaccination campaigns, which are designed to safeguard the population against various illnesses.

The Child Health Promotion Week and African Vaccination Week, celebrated annually in April and May respectively, were introduced in 2004 and 2010 to raise awareness about critical child health services available to the public.

Among the services highlighted by Mr. Mettle were immunization, growth monitoring and promotion, vitamin A supplementation, health education, counselling on infant and young child nutrition, as well as birth registration and family planning.

This year’s celebration is themed: “Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future; Invest in Your Child. Attend Weighing Regularly.”

Source: Emmanuel Mettle

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/ncce-urges-calm-in-ablekuma-north-as-constituents-await-official-ec-results/ Fri, 09 May 2025 10:17:50 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2533379 Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has urged the constituents of Ablekuma North to remain composed and accept the results of the 2024 parliamentary elections once officially declared by the Electoral Commission (EC).

Currently, Ablekuma North remains the only constituency without an elected Member of Parliament, several months after the general elections, due to ongoing disputes regarding the parliamentary vote outcome.

Speaking at a press briefing organized by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Madam Addy emphasized the importance of upholding the democratic process.

“In every election, there is a winner and a loser, and I want to urge the people of Ghana—particularly the people of Ablekuma North—to accept the results as declared by the EC,” she stated.

The meeting, held at the NCCE headquarters in Accra on Thursday, April 3, 2025, focused on leveraging the Commission’s nationwide reach to promote anti-corruption awareness at all levels of society.

Mr. Agyebeng emphasised that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is not only mandated to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences but also to prevent corruption through proactive public education.

“We must go beyond arrests and prosecutions. Preventing corruption starts with reshaping mindsets and instilling a culture of integrity. That’s where the NCCE comes in,” Mr. Agyebeng noted, underscoring the need for a sustained partnership to educate the public, particularly at the grassroots level.

NCCE Chairperson, Ms. Kathleen Addy, welcomed the collaboration, highlighting the Commission’s capacity to drive civic engagement across the country.

“We are committed to working closely with the OSP to empower Ghanaians with the knowledge and values required to resist corruption in all its forms,” she said.

A key point of discussion was the importance of addressing vote-buying and selling well ahead of the election season.

Both institutions agreed that civic education on electoral integrity should be continuous, rather than reactionary, and pledged to explore joint resource mobilisation strategies to support long-term educational initiatives.

Also present at the meeting was Samuel Appiah Darko, Director for Strategy, Research, and Communications at the OSP.

The NCCE delegation included Deputy Chairperson (Operations) Samuel Asare Akuamoah, Deputy Chairperson (General Services) Dr. Victor Brobbey, and other senior officials of the Commission.

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The initiative aimed to encourage residents to move past any conflicts or tensions that arose during last year’s general elections and focus on contributing to the country’s progress.

Communities visited included Wungu, Bulbia, Zua, Yama, Diibsi, Kpasenkpe, Sareba, Duu Silinga, Wulugu, and the Walewale Market.

Addressing community members through face-to-face meetings and public announcements, West Mamprusi Municipal NCCE Director, Thomas Imoro Issahaku, urged residents to embrace unity and reconciliation.

He emphasized the importance of setting aside grievances and accepting apologies where necessary, stating, “If Ghana develops, everyone benefits. Likewise, if the country does not progress, the impact is felt by all.”

He also called on the winning political party to involve all community members in development efforts, stressing the need for inclusive governance.

Additionally, he cautioned against discrimination toward minority ethnic groups, urging residents to foster mutual respect to prevent conflicts.

Other speakers at the event included NCCE Chief Field Officers Salifu Zeinab and Mohammed Alhassan, as well as Madam Ubeidatu Abubakari.

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In a press release issued on January 7, 2025, to mark Constitution Day, the Commission lauded the occasion as a testament to Ghana’s enduring democratic resilience and national unity.

The NCCE also celebrated Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s groundbreaking achievement as the first woman to assume the office of Vice President, expressing hope that her success would inspire women nationwide and symbolize progress for future generations.

Highlighting the importance of Constitution Day, the Commission reminded citizens of their collective commitment to the 1992 Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Today reminds us of the resilience of our democracy and the progress we have made as a nation toward democratic governance, peace, and development,” the statement emphasized.

The NCCE commended Ghanaians for their active participation in the December 7, 2024, elections, describing it as a testament to the maturity of the nation’s democratic institutions.

It praised stakeholders for their contributions and urged citizens to prioritize peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and dialogue in the post-election period.

“Peaceful coexistence and national cohesion are the bedrock of effective governance and national development. Now, more than ever, we must prioritize unity, tolerance, and respect for the rule of law as we work together to build a prosperous Ghana,” the Commission urged.

The NCCE emphasized that democracy extends beyond voting, calling for sustained efforts to nurture peace, tolerance, and respect for diversity.

It also announced its 2025 civic education theme: “Ghana’s Future: Our Collective Responsibility,” focusing on post-election governance, youth involvement, and the roles of state institutions.

As the nation commemorates Constitution Day, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting civic education and fostering national unity, urging all Ghanaians to safeguard democracy.

“Democracy does not end with the casting of ballots. It requires continuous effort to nurture peace, tolerance, the rule of law, and respect for diversity in our daily lives.

“Long live Ghana’s democracy! Long live the 1992 Constitution! God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!” the statement concluded.

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The event also allowed electorates to voice concerns, make suggestions, and ask questions on issues affecting them.

This dialogue, held in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), aimed to foster a platform for the constituency’s two parliamentary candidates, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Rev. Kweku Addo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to engage constituents.

Despite both candidates being invited, only Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful attended the program.

In her opening remarks, the Ablekuma West Municipal NCCE Director, Ms. Georgina Ohemeng, emphasized the importance of the dialogue, noting that it was designed to help candidates articulate their vision for the constituency and address the concerns of constituents.

She encouraged attendees to be tolerant of divergent views, placing peace and development above all in their discussions.

Members of the IPDC also contributed by promoting political tolerance, warning against the spread of fake news, and urging vigilance to ensure free and fair elections.

Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, a three-term Member of Parliament and NPP parliamentary candidate, expressed gratitude to the NCCE for organizing the dialogue and to the people of Ablekuma West for their unwavering confidence in her leadership.

She recounted her achievements over the past 12 years, highlighting infrastructure projects, social interventions, improvements in security, job creation, and sanitation initiatives.

Addressing the stalled sea defense project affecting Glefe, Shiabu, and neighboring communities, Hon. Owusu-Ekuful explained that delays were caused by fisherfolk’s demands to incorporate a landing beach into the project.

This necessitated a revision of the contract plans, which was beyond her office’s control. She assured constituents that the hurdles had been resolved, and work would soon resume.

Participants raised concerns about sanitation, employment opportunities, and uncompleted projects in the constituency. The MP assured them of her commitment to addressing these issues and completing ongoing projects.

She urged constituents to vote massively for the NPP in both parliamentary and presidential elections to safeguard initiatives like the Free Senior High School policy and other impactful programs introduced by the NPP government.

In closing, Mr. Adam Mahmoud, Chairman of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee and Chief Imam of the Tunga Community, encouraged electorates to fulfill their civic responsibilities peacefully and avoid actions that could jeopardize Ghana’s peace.

The dialogue organized in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee and Latenu FM, allowed Vincent Odotei Sowah and David Annerty both Independent Candidates to outline their developmental plans and agenda.

Though the candidates from the two main dominant parties boycotted the event, the issues which were raised and asked by the moderator cut across education, health, employment and infrastructure.

In his welcome address, the La Dade-Kotopon NCCE Municipal Director, Emmanuel Mettle said the dialogue was aimed at giving the candidates the opportunity to articulate their plans for the constituency and also respond to the concerns of the constituents.

He urged the constituents to be tolerant both politically and religiously as they geared towards the polls.

Mr Mettle added that it was the responsibility of all to jealously protect the gains made in the democratic experiment.

Mr Odotei, a one time Member of Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) who is currently running as an Independent candidate said he would implement an annual awards scheme for teachers.

He also pledged to ensure an annual distribution of desks and text books to both Senior and Junior High Schools in the Municipality.

Not all, he also indicated his preparedness to leverage on his experience gained to establish a scholarship scheme for teachers who had the desire to teach the Ga Language in the Municipality.

On health, Mr. Odotei pledged the constituents to facilitate the completion of the La General Hospital which is currently under construction and also help the aged to renew their NHIS through his share of resources which are provided to Members of Parliament.

In tackling unemployment, the aspirant indicated that he will use his lobbying skills to facilitate the recruitment of the youth whose sole desire was to to be enlisted in the security services.

He pledged to use his share of the Common Fund to train the youth in vocational skills of their choice as well as equipping them with entrepreneurial skills.

These he said will reduce the high unemployment rate amongst the youth in the constituency.

Agriculture which he said was his priority will be enhanced. This he said will be achieved by supporting the peasant farmers in the constituency with agricultural inputs to enable them expand their agricultural activities.

David Annerty also an Independent candidate acknowledged the sharp decline in student performance in the constituency and pledged to allocate a part of the MPs Common Fund to support extra classes for students, particularly for students in the Government funded schools.

He also proposed an annual award scheme to motivate teaches to give off their best in the classroom.

On improving healthcare in the constituency, Mr Annerty pledged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to help with the completion of the La General Hospital.

On employment, the aspirant stated that if elected, he will collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations to equip the youth with vocational skills to enable them establish their individual businesses.

Mr Annerty also made a promise to facilitate the acquisition of soft loans to help those in the Agricultural sector in the Municipality to boast their trade.

Present at the event were Miyemliniaba Nii Adjei Asua Owen II who chairs the Inter Party Dialogue Committee and also a representative from the La Traditional Council, Mr. Kenneth Ahinakwa and the Secretary of the Local Council of Churches in La.

The others were Sheikh Abdul Rashid Odoi Atsem, the Chief Iman for the Muslim Community in the Municipality and who moderated the dialogue, ASP Samuel Obiri from the La Police Command, Inter Party Dialogue Committee Members, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Identifiable Groups, Youth and Women Groups, Media and the Constituents.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Gloria Amarkie Kudo, the NCCE Deputy Greater Accra Regional Director, expressed delight with the participants and urged all the other aspirants to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults and name-calling.

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Held in the Tetegu community within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality in Accra, the event featured documentaries highlighting the devastating consequences of electoral violence, showcasing conflicts from Sierra Leone and South Sudan where innocent lives were lost.

Mr. Wisdom Ofori Ntsomai, the Municipal Director of NCCE for Weija-Gbawe, told the attendees that violence was destructive and denied people their lives.

He pointed out several common triggers of election-related violence, including wearing political party T-shirts to polling stations, drinking alcohol, carrying weapons, campaigning near polling centers, and taunting others during celebrations.

Mr. Ntsomai urged the public to engage in the electoral process responsibly to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent election in Ghana.

He also educated voters on the issue of spoilt and rejected ballots, advising them to return any ballot paper that lacked a serial number, EC stamp, or showed ink spills to EC officials for a replacement.

On the topic of information management, Mr. Ntsomai cautioned the electorate against falling for misinformation, fake news, and hate speech circulating on social media, radio, and television.

He encouraged people to verify the credibility of information before acting on it.

He advised against vote buying and urged voters to choose candidates based on policies rather than monetary incentives or personal services.

“Vote buying is prohibited. Voting should be based on policies and programmes that seek to enhance the welfare of the people,” he said.

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Their worry follows a misleading comment made by a broadcaster on Wontumi TV claiming different dates have been scheduled for the election.

The Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Asokwa Municipality, Nathaniel Tweneboah Koduah, expressed his concerns about misinformation and disinformation being propagated in the media ahead of the upcoming elections.

Speaking on Luv FM, he described it as depressing, to hear a media personality spreading false information about the electoral process.

Tweneboah Koduah noted that he and his team have been working tirelessly since the beginning of the year to battle misinformation and disinformation, focusing on four critical areas,vote buying, misinformation and disinformation, religious and ethnic violence, and political violence.

“We have carried out extensive education on these four areas, particularly on misinformation and disinformation, and continue to do so. It’s disheartening to hear a media personality make such misleading statements,” he stated.
Contributing to the discussion on Luv in the Morning, a member of the NPP Ashanti Regional Communication Team, Archibald Gyasi, argued that the public is already well-informed about the electoral process through the outreach efforts of political parties in rural areas.

“What the media personality said isn’t something that will mislead the public. People know how elections work,” he said,
although he emphasized that he does not condone misinformation.

“I think this is selective justice, even though I don’t support media professionals misleading the public about elections” he added.

Prof Dissou Yarhands of the National Democratic Congress, however, took a swipe at the NPP for not condemning the comment.

Tweneboah Koduah remains committed to battling misinformation and emphasized the need for responsible communication, especially during an election period. He called on political parties and the media to be mindful of their statements to ensure the public remains informed and to safeguard the peace and integrity of the electoral process.
The commission says such comments disrupt their work and jeopardize public trust in credible institutions.

Mr. Koduah stressed the dangers of misinformation to Ghana’s democracy, warning that such actions devastate trust in institutions and leadership, and also fuel social unrest, and distract from critical national issues.

“The NCCE’s efforts to educate the public are being undermined by such false statements. The priority is to ensure a peaceful election and reduce the number of rejected ballot papers. Statements like these can have serious consequences for the notion,” he said.

He highlighted the difficulties this creates, especially when such comments come from high profile individuals who influence public opinion.

“I’m glad the NCCE national headquarters has condemned this misinformation.We’ve engaged media houses on the consequences of spreading false information, but I’ve not formally written to the media house involved. The press release we’ve issued have address this,” he stated

It was designed to provide citizens with the opportunity to interact with Parliamentary candidates in the Kumbungu Constituency, make informed decisions, and promote peaceful and inclusive elections.

Although all the Parliamentary candidates in the constituency were invited to share their visions and address the concerns of the constituents, only Professor Hamza Adam, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, attended the event.

The event, held in Kumbungu, brought together political party executives, Inter-party Dialogue Committee members, religious leaders, traditional authorities, security agencies, and members of the public.

Professor Adam, speaking during the event, said that within the last four years, he had worked to address several development challenges in the area, including the extension of potable water, electricity, and classroom blocks, among others, to communities.

He said his leadership had transformed the healthcare system in the area, with significant improvements in healthcare infrastructure and services.

He promised to create job opportunities for the people and empower them, especially the youth in the area.

Superintendent Mr. David Nyuah, Kumbungu District Police Commander, urged all to prioritize peace and tolerance during this year’s elections.

He said, “Elections are about winning, but only one person can win. We must accept the outcome and maintain the peace.”

Janet Ameseya, Kumbungu District Director of NCCE, lauded participants for their enthusiasm in the exercise and called on the community members to come out in their numbers and vote for the candidate of their choice.

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The aim is to reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and order at polling stations.

Principal Civic Education Officer for the district, Anthony Atumeku Brebu-Dadzie, cautioned political party supporters against engaging in any form of political activity at polling stations that could disrupt the electoral process.

Speaking to Adom News during a parliamentary candidates’ debate organized by the NCCE, Brebu-Dadzie urged Ghanaians to actively participate in the electoral process while adhering to the guidelines aimed at ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections.

“The electoral process is a critical pillar of our democracy, and every citizen must act responsibly to protect its integrity,” he stated.

He reminded constituents against wearing party t-shirts or exhibiting party paraphernalia at polling stations.

The debate also provided a platform for parliamentary candidates in the constituency to share their policies and engage with the electorate.

Some candidates expressed their commitment to promoting peaceful elections and ensuring that their supporters comply with electoral laws.

The report suggested that hat extremists and jihadists are targeting the upcoming December 7 elections, and that the NCCE has detected attempts to recruit youth to disrupt the polls.

But in a statement, NCCE clarified that neither its Chairperson, Kathleen Addy, nor any staff member nationwide has made such utterances.

The Commission has therefore disassociated itself from the claims.

“The statement is untrue. The general public has been misinformed, and the Commission does not associate with claims by the newspaper,” a portion of the statement read.

The NCCE has, therefore, drawn the attention of both the reporter and the media house to the false report, demanding a rejoinder to correct the purported statement.

The public, media, security agencies, and all state actors have also been urged to disregard the publication, labelling it as misinformation.

“The Commission over the years has sensitised the public and its stakeholders on misinformation and this is a clear example of what the NCCE has been engaging the general public on,” the statement added.

The NCCE reiterated its commitment to fostering civic education and maintaining public trust, while urging everyone to verify information before sharing or publishing.

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The forum aimed to provide an opportunity for candidates to engage with constituents on issues important to Ghanaian voters, enhancing voters’ knowledge to make informed choices based on candidates’ competencies and development plans.

Organized by the NCCE in partnership with the Lawra Municipal Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), an NCCE initiative to promote peace before, during, and after the 2024 election, the event encouraged community engagement.

At the forum’s opening in Lawra, Jesurun Ninge Mornah, the Lawra Municipal Director of the NCCE, urged the public to exercise their constitutional rights by actively participating in the election process to reinforce the country’s democratic values. He encouraged attendees to assess candidates’ proposed interventions for the constituency and determine whose plans best align with the community’s aspirations.

Mr. Dapila Samuel, a deacon of the Assemblies of God Church in Lawra, moderated the discussion, which covered key voter concerns such as healthcare, agriculture, education, roads, unemployment, and the economy.

The forum attracted representatives from the local security services, Lawra Municipal IPDC members, religious leaders, and heads of institutions and departments. Attendees included representatives of women and youth groups, faith-based organizations, persons with disabilities, students, and members of various political parties.

Participants raised questions about the constituency’s development needs, including the construction of the Dikpe Bridge.

Among the three parliamentary candidates in Lawra Constituency—the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), and an Independent candidate—only the NDC candidate attended the forum.

Bede A. Ziedeng, the NDC candidate, praised the NCCE for organizing the event, stating it would empower voters to make informed choices on December 7, 2024, regarding their parliamentary representative for 2025.

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He emphasized the importance of a peaceful electoral process, warning that electoral violence poses a significant threat to democracy, stability, and social cohesion.

Mr. Agbenu noted that acts of violence, intimidation, and vandalism could undermine the legitimacy of election results and erode public trust in the political system.

He delivered this message during a 2024 lecture on peace organized by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Ga Presbytery, Department of Ecumenical and Social Relations, under the theme “Strengthening Our Capacity to be Peacemakers Before, During, and After the 2024 General Elections.”

Mr. Agbenu was accompanied by Edem Afeeva, Ayawaso West Municipal Director of the NCCE, and other staff of the commission.

He explained that electoral violence leads to injury and death, destruction of property, hardship for citizens, and exacerbates underlying chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts. It also diminishes political participation, as distrust in the process leads to lower voter turnout.

The NCCE regional director further noted that such violence causes political instability, human rights violations, stalls infrastructure and economic development, tarnishes the international image of the country, and fosters economic stagnation, creating anxiety and a breakdown of law and order.

He acknowledged that, while Ghana is known for its vibrant democracy and history of regular elections, threats like misinformation, disinformation, fake news, hate speech, religious bigotry, electoral violence, corruption, and money in politics could still harm the country’s democratic reputation.

Mr. Agbenu identified drivers of electoral violence, including ethnic or religious divisions, disputed results due to alleged fraud, militant or vigilante groups, weak security measures, perceptions of Electoral Commission bias, and the “winner-takes-all” syndrome.

He appealed to Ghanaians to safeguard peace and ensure a smooth democratic process.

“An election is a formal process in which eligible citizens choose their representatives or leaders by voting. It is fundamental to democratic governance and serves to make decisions about leadership, public policy, and other key issues,” he stated.

Addressing credible elections, he highlighted benchmarks such as inclusivity, fairness, transparency, competitiveness, and accountability.

Mr. Agbenu stressed that peaceful elections are a shared responsibility, involving various agents and citizens, and that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides a framework for credible, peaceful, free, and fair elections.

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In recent weeks, there has been an alarming rise in election-related violence across the country, with numerous clashes between party supporters.

Agbenu emphasized that Article 65 of the 1992 Constitution grants everyone the right to support the party of their choice, and this should not lead to misunderstandings.

He stressed, “Democracy is about differing opinions, not conflict.”

He added, “There is no need to fight your brother or neglect to support your brother because he or she belongs to Party A or Party B. At the end of the day, we are all the same people. People can belong to the same family but have different preferences, just like in politics.”

Speaking to Adom News, Agbenu highlighted that the most important thing is peace.

His call for peace follows comments from Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, Executive Director of the Alliance for Christian Advocacy, who lamented the rise in election-related violence.

Rev. Dr. Frimpong referred to incidents such as the shooting during the Agona West rally and a violent clash between NDC and NPP supporters at Mamobi, which resulted in injuries from gunshots.

He described these events, along with the renewed Bawku conflicts, as potential disasters if not addressed.

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This issue came to light following the release of a recent NCCE report, which revealed that some voters are willing to use violence to further party interests or in response to perceived electoral misconduct.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 23, Madam Kathleen stressed the urgent need to strengthen government institutions to restore public trust in the electoral process and curb the potential for violence.

“It should deeply concern all well-meaning Ghanaians that some individuals are openly willing to participate in violent actions for one reason or another,” she remarked.

“As a society, we must come together to ensure confidence in the systems designed for governance, so that people are not compelled to choose violence.

“We must help people understand that there are peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms available through institutions like the Peace Council. These should be utilized to resolve any electoral disputes.

“At polling stations, each party has representatives assigned to monitor vote allocation. If you haven’t been delegated to represent your party, you have no business being there to do party work.”

Source: Adomonline

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However, a worrying trend is growing in the beloved country, where major national issues are being politicised. If this continues, it can divide the country, slow development, and weaken national unity.

National issues, ranging from economic crises, educational reforms, healthcare, and infrastructure development to environmental conservation, should be approached with a sense of unity.

These issues affect all of us as Ghanaians, regardless of our political affiliations.

However, when these issues are politicized, the focus shifts from finding collective solutions to engaging in partisan debates that serve the interests of the two major political parties in the country rather than the people.

This often results in policies aimed at winning political votes, especially in election years rather than fixing the actual problems bedevilling all.

Sometimes major national concerns are viewed through a partisan lens, dividing the country along political lines, with one side blaming the other instead of having useful national discussions.

Such polarization threatens the social fabric of the nation, and becomes a battle of “us versus them,” instead of seeing ourselves as one people with a common enemy.

Instead of fighting the enemy, we fight and destroy ourselves. Discussions become less about facts and solutions and more about which political party can score political points.

Sometimes projects in certain communities are deferred or not done because of their affiliation to a particular party.

For Ghana to continue progressing as a beacon of democracy and development in Africa, it is essential to reduce the politicization of national issues.

These matters should go beyond party politics and be addressed with a sense of shared responsibility.

Here are some steps that can help achieve this:

Firstly, national issues should be discussed in forums that encourage constructive, non-partisan debate. Creating spaces where political leaders, civil society, and citizens can discuss national challenges without political interference finding solutions that work for all.

Secondly, our state institutions, such as the Judiciary, Security Services, Electoral Commission, and anti-corruption bodies, must remain independent and strong.

When these institutions are free from political influence, they can serve as neutral arbiters of national issues, ensuring that decisions are made in the national interest rather than for a particular political party, which will not remain in power forever.

Additionally, political parties must refrain from micromanaging or interfering in the operations of state institutions.

Political power is not permanent, and those who meddle in state affairs may face consequences when they find themselves in opposition.

Individuals entrusted with leadership roles in our institutions must remain strong and resolute, resisting any attempts to be manipulated or swayed by personal gain.

When state institutions operate independently, it fosters public trust and contributes to national unity, rather than division and polarization.

Furthermore, the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) should intensify the education of all on the importance of national unity and the danger of excessive politicization.

More education on national cohesion should go on in our schools so that our children would assimilate the importance of national dialogue and cohesion.

The NCCE should engage the services of religious bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and traditional authorities. When citizens understand that national issues require non-partisan solutions, they are less likely to be swayed by divisive political rhetoric.

Lastly, the media as the fourth estate of our governance system plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Media houses set the agenda for discussion each morning.

They should promote balanced and factual reportage on national issues, avoiding the temptation to frame every issue as political.

It would be better if certain national issues were discussed by politically neutral individuals, rather than staunch party supporters, to help educate and inform the public. Objective and unbiased reportage can help to depoliticize sensitive issues and foster informed public debate.

Bringing my discussion to an end, it is imperative we know that our future depends on how well we manage our national issues without extreme obnoxious partisan interference. Inordinate politicization of national issues risks deepening division in the country, delaying progress, and undermining the national interest and development.

As a nation, we must learn to prioritize the common good over selfish political interests. It is only through unity, accountability, and cooperation that our beloved country can overcome its challenges and build a brighter future for all especially the generation unborn.

I conclude with the words of Dr. Chuba Williams Okadigbo “If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind.”

Source: Rev. FR Stephen Kofi Sakpaku (sonnichristus@yahoo.com)

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She warned that it could have dangerous consequences.

Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on “Peace Beyond Election 2024: The Role of the Ghanaian Citizen,” she stated that using money to influence voters risks undermining democracy.

“If we continue to indulge in this culture of giving out money and demanding money as part of the electoral process, we are going to find ourselves in dangerous zones,” she warned, adding, “It is almost like we’ve put our democracy out there for sale.”

Madam Addy noted that the NCCE is launching an awareness programme to educate citizens and politicians on the dangers of monetisation in politics.

She also highlighted another significant threat—fake news, disinformation, and misinformation—as it undermines social cohesion and endangers the stability of the state.

Madam Addy urged citizens to avoid engaging with such content to help maintain peace and unity.

Additionally, the NCCE Chairperson said the Commission is working on promoting religious tolerance in Ghana’s political culture, with an agreement among faith leaders to prevent religion from becoming a divisive factor.

The commission is also focusing on curbing political violence, the use of insults, and intemperate language during campaigns.

The Commission in a statement dated Monday, September 17, 2024, said it “regrets the decision by the NCCE Division of PSWU to embark on strike action, particularly at a time when negotiations are still ongoing.”

The Commission explained that it has been engaging with the NCCE Division of PSWU in good faith as part of the negotiation process to conclude the negotiation on the Conditions of Service for NCCE staff.

That, it said, “the FWSC has not employed any “delay tactics” as described by the union but has been engaging the union since the rules of engagement were signed on July 23, 2024.”
unapparelled luxury

The Commission said it remains committed to the negotiations, urging the NCCE Division of PSWU to reconsider its decision to embark on the strike action as planned.
Below is the FWSC statement

Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s Response to Announced Strike Action by NCCE Division of PSWU

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has taken note of the announced intention of the Divisional Executive Council (DEC) of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Division of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), to embark on an indefinite strike action set to begin on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

The FWSC regrets the decision by the NCCE Division of PSWU to embark on strike action, particularly at a time when negotiations are still ongoing.

Chronology of events between government and PSWU on the current negotiation:

1. On July 23, 2024, a pre-negotiation meeting was held where all parties agreed to the terms of the Rules of Engagement, including negotiating in good faith and expeditiously without setting particular timelines.
2. On the same July 23, 2024, the Government Team, consisting of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Ministry of Finance, and Management of NCCE, began negotiations with the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) on behalf of the NCCE staff. After some deliberations, the Government Team informed the Union that they needed to study the proposals submitted by PSWU and obtain the necessary mandate from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to conclude negotiations.
3. On August 1, 2024, among other allowances, an agreement was reached on the Professional Development Allowance, which was renamed to “Professional Development Support”.
4. Another meeting was convened on September 4, 2024, to continue negotiations where the FWSC presented counterproposals on the outstanding items based on the mandate received from the Ministry of Finance. The Union, however, rejected the Government Team’s counterproposals and maintained their initial position on the allowances.
5. While the FWSC was engaging the MoF to obtain a new mandate, the Divisional Union of NCCE, on September 13, 2024, served notice to embark on a strike action effective September 18, 2024, citing delays by the Government Team in concluding negotiations.

The Commission wishes to state that it has been engaging with the NCCE Division of PSWU in good faith as part of the negotiation process to conclude the negotiation on the Conditions of Service for NCCE staff.

The FWSC has not employed any “delay tactics” as described by the union but has been engaging the union since the rules of engagement were signed on July 23, 2024.

The Commission remains committed to the negotiations and urges the NCCE Division of PSWU to reconsider its decision to embark on strike action.

The FWSC wishes to assure the public that it will continue to engage with the NCCE Division of PSWU and other stakeholders to resolve the current impasse and ensure that the welfare of NCCE staff is protected.

We appeal to the union to rescind its decision to embark on strike action and return to the negotiating table to conclude the process.

Emelia Ennin
Head of Public Affairs
Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
Contact details
0557142525
Info@fairwages.gov.gh

In a statement, NCCE bemoaned galamsey is a direct existential threat to our environment, public health, and the prosperity of the country.

The Commission has therefore called on the Ghana Police, the Armed Forces and other security agencies, to intensify efforts by arresting and prosecuting offenders to curb the menace.

The statement highlighted the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies, political parties, and local communities to tackle galamsey head-on, further calling out political parties to clearly outline their strategies to combat the illegal practise.

Condemning any double standards shown in addressing the national issue, NCCE commended the actions of local communities and traditional leaders, encouraging nationwide efforts to preserve the environment.

Particularly, NCCE appraised the chiefs and youth of Akyem Asoum, as well as Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for their efforts in combatting illegal mining activities in their domains, encouraging similar actions across the country.

The NCCE has pledged its commitment to working with state agencies and civil society to promote sustainable environmental practices.

Below is the full statement by the NCCE:

THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CIVIC EDUCATION (NCCE) ON ILLEGAL MINING (GALAMSEY) AND THE NEED FOR ROBUST ACTION

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is deeply concerned about the continued degradation of our environment through illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Illegal mining is a direct existential threat to our environment, public health, and the prosperity of our country. It is not just an environmental issue but a serious criminal activity that undermines national efforts toward sustainable development and environmental governance.

The NCCE unequivocally condemns galamsey and calls on all relevant security services, including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies, to take immediate and decisive action against perpetrators. The security services must treat illegal mining as a serious offence that warrants urgent and robust intervention to halt its devastating effects. On the back of the above, we call on the security services to:

1. Intensify patrols and surveillance in galamsey-prone areas
2. Arrest and prosecute perpetrators
3. Collaborate with local communities to identify and report illegal mining activities

The NCCE calls on the two political parties that have governed this county over the course of the fourth republic to demonstrate a clear commitment to the fight against galamsey. They must articulate and spell out without equivocation how they will address the menace. It is highly
disingenuous to say in one breath they are against galamsey and in another breath encourage perpetrator to go ahead with it.

We the people of Ghana are enjoined by the 1992 Constitution, article 41 (K) to protect and safeguard the environment as our civic responsibility. As a commission, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental sustainability and civic responsibility.

We have been actively engaging in tree-planting exercises, environmental education, and community outreach programs to raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. We, therefore, see galamsey as a big rollback to efforts at preserving the environment.

The NCCE, therefore, commends the actions of the Chiefs and youth of Akyem Asoum in the Eastern Region for chasing out people engaged in galamsey from their community, and we urge other communities to do the same.

Every Ghanaian has a role to play in protecting our environment, and the law must deal swiftly and severely with those who willfully destroy our natural heritage for selfish gains.

We also, commend the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II actions that resulted in the destoolment of chiefs involved in galamsey, the NCCE calls on the security services, including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies, to take a cue from the Asantehene.

The NCCE remains committed to working closely with state agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities to promote good environmental governance and ensure that every Ghanaian understands the importance of sustainable practices.

Conclusion

Let us all remember that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. Each of us must play a role in order for us to win this fight against galamsey. We must act now, decisively, and with a sense of urgency to preserve our natural resources and to secure a sustainable future for all Ghanaians.

May God Bless our Homeland Ghana and Make our Nation Great and Strong.

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He called on Ghanaians to contribute to a peaceful election and choose visionary and patriotic leaders, who are passionate for development, when they go to the polls on December 7, 2024.

Mr Adu gave the advise while speaking on the topic “Tolerance” at an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting, organised by the Commission at Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.

“We should endeavour to cope with and accept our human differences (and) move on with our lives peaceably,” he stated.

The Tano North Municipal Director of the NCCE, Joseph Oduro Buabin, highlighted the relevance of the meeting, stressing the need to engage all election stakeholders to dialogue and collaborate effectively to maintain the prevailing peace of the municipality.

He said an atmosphere of peace was required if the nation could choose a good government for progressive development.

The participants were taken through topics, including money in politics, misinformation and disinformation.

In an open forum, many of the participants called for police and military presence at the various polling stations to maintain law and order.

Some of them also urged the various political parties to present well trained, credible and responsible party agents at the polling stations.

Representatives of the various political parties reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a violent-free election.

Source: Myjoyonline

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Such practices, according to the Commission, could raise tension thereby compromising peace in the country ahead of the election.

A Principal Civic Education Officer at the Asante-Akim South Municipal Directorate of the NCCE, Patrick Asare wants perpetrators of misinformation and disinformation to desist from the unpatriotic practice before it plunges the nation into chaos.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee at Juaso as part of efforts by the NCCE to ensure peace before, during and after the election.

The committee, among other functions, would be responsible for monitoring breaches of rules and regulations regarding the electoral processes, resolving petty conflicts, investigating cases of abuse of the rules and regulations, and issuing joint statements on political issues to diffuse tension.

Mr. Asare encouraged the public to know the source and authenticity of information they share on social media in order not to be the conduit for the dissemination of false information.

He encouraged members of the committee to promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence as key stakeholders with diverse roles in society.

The Deputy Regional Director of NCCE, Andrews Ofori Larbi, said the committee was formed to complement established structures mandated to oversee a peaceful election and charged members to make their involvement count.

He implored them to avail themselves of all activities that may require their attention as December 7 approaches.

The Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Franca Dei Yeboah entreated political parties to use dialogue in seeking redress for their grievances rather than violence.

She spoke about notable flashpoints in the constituency and urged political parties and other stakeholders to take steps to eliminate tensions in those areas.

The Municipal Director also responded to some concerns raised by the political party representatives and assured them of the EC’s commitment to ensuring a free and fair election.

According to her, democracy largely hinges on the media; therefore, if the media is continuously attacked, it is a clear indication that there is a threat to democracy.

Speaking at JoyNew’s national dialogue on ‘Defending Media Freedom’ on August 29, she said “Whatever the case may be attacking media, violence, cannot be the way forward for us.

“Our democracy is based on a free media and our constitution is unequivocal on that. We must ensure that journalists have the freedom to practice their journalism within the constraints of their ethical requirement or recommendation.”

Madam Addy stated that there should be no occasion where violence against the media is normalised, as this would make the entire country unsafe.

She advised stakeholders to take action against those who commit such wrongs; otherwise, Ghana would continue to hold conferences while the issues plaguing society persist.

Additionally, the NCCE head called for an all-hands-on-deck approach to guard against misinformation and disinformation.

Ahead of the polls, she said tempers would rise when individuals feel the results are not in their favour, but she urged them to remember that “this time round not one blood should be shed for anybody. Nobody is worth it. No political party, no political godfather, or godmother is worth shedding blood much less dying for.

Source: Myjoyonline

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According to the Commission, it would ease the unemployment rate in the country where youth would get jobs through different sources of social media.

The Assistant NCCE personnel at Anloga, Woelikplim Emmanuella Apetorgbor, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency to mark this year’s ‘International Youth Day,’ stated that the day was observed annually on August 12.

“International Youth Day gives opportunity to the government and other corporate organisations to pay critical attention to issues bothering the youth nationwide.”

She further disclosed that the youth are always at the forefront of every nation, adding “There must be digital pathways to generate sustainable job development and adopt technology to be part of their lives.”

She urged the youth to adapt to the various skills introduced to grab more job opportunities from the various sources of the internet, which include Facebook, Youtube, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, and others.

Madam Apetorgbor said the day was marked to identify the significant challenges faced by the youth in areas such as education, skills job creation, and others and appealed to organisations to help ease the challenges.

She cautioned the youth to desist from using the internet through the various digital platforms for negative and illegal acts.

“The world has developed, and digitalisation has taken over and all must adjust to the new changes of the system for an enhanced growth.”

This year’s ‘International Youth Day’ was on the theme “From Clocks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.

A section of the youth the GNA engaged, called for the government’s attention in revamping key youth-related institutions.

Source: GNA

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According to the NCCE, the deep-seated canker has perpetuated political corruption, thereby hindering the country’s progress.

According to the Assin Fosu Municipal Director of NCCE, Mr Paul Tetteh, many political aspirants resort to purchasing votes to secure their positions and subsequently recoup their investments through corrupt practices, thereby impeding the nation’s growth.

Speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency, he said, “No amount of monetary inducement should sway voters from exercising their civic duty with integrity.”

Vote-buying involves offering gifts, money, or other incentives in exchange for votes during elections.

Mr. Tetteh referenced instances during the recent parliamentary and presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) where the practice was prevalent.

The methods of vote-buying vary, ranging from distributing money and food items to promising employment opportunities, scholarships, and other financial incentives.

He said the practise of vote-buying was punishable under the Representation of the People Act, 1992 (Act 284), which explicitly prohibits the practise of vote-buying, stating that any person who offers, gives, or receives money or gifts in exchange for votes commits an offence punishable by law.

In addition, the Criminal Offences Act, of 1960 (Act 29) criminalises bribery in elections, further clarifying the legal consequences of vote buying and cautioned the public to eschew it.

On the part of the media, Mr Tetteh underscored the necessity for practitioners to refrain from facilitating politicians’ use of their platforms for insults and incitement of violence as the nation approaches the December elections.

He identified the culture of insults, misinformation, exchange of money for votes and ethnic divisive campaigning as threats to democracy in Ghana.

As the country prepares for the upcoming election, he called on the public to prioritise unity and constructive dialogue, emphasising the significance of engagement in the decision-making processes to hold leaders accountable for their actions.

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It said that was because all of Ghanaian neighbours had suffered attacks by violent extremists and Ghana’s porous borders had made it possible for the free movement of violent extremists and weapons in and out of the country.

Mr John Yibile, the Deputy Upper West Regional Director of the NCCE, said this in Nadowli during a dialogue session between the Ghana Police Service and the community to build trust and improve police-community relations and confidence.

The dialogue was at the behest of the Nadowli-Kaleo District Directorate of the NCCE under the European Union-funded “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Northern Regions of Ghana project.

Mr Yibile said there was need for the Police-Community dialogue to proffer strategies to “prevent, contain and counteract violent extremism and safeguard the security of the people and the state”.

“Effective modern policing calls for collaboration, co-operation and inclusive decision-making of all stakeholders at all levels.

This relationship between the police and the community is essential in maintaining peace and order, and general security”, he explained.

Mr Yibile encouraged members of the public to resort to non-violent means to settle disputes as violent extremists took advantage of existing conflicts in society to strike.

In a presentation during the dialogue, Superintendent Mr James Ankan, the Nadowli-Kaleo District Police Commander, observed that violent extremism could stem from religious, political, ideological or chieftaincy conflicts, among others.

He explained that factors such as lack of logistics, distance of police from the community and fear of betrayal of informants by the police, among others, militated against the efforts of the police and the community to fight violent extremism.

He appealed for support to the police and other security agencies to identify individuals at risk of radicalisation, strong stakeholder coordination and relevant information sharing as potent means of countering violent extremism.

“As a nation, to overcome terrorism and violent extremism, it is a duty for all of us to promote tolerance and national cohesion within and among ourselves irrespective of our religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender and political differences”, Mr Ankan stated.

Madam Stella Dugrah, a Principal Civic Education Officer at the Nadowli-Kaleo District NCCE office, stated that the dialogue was to create a platform for the Ghana Police Service and the communities to interact and strengthen their relationship in peacebuilding.

She said it would help enhance trust and understanding between the two institutions and strengthen their cooperation for effective law enforcement, address the root causes of radicalisation, enhance community resilience and ensure community safety.

Traditional leaders, Assembly Members, security personnel and the people of Nadowli, among others, participated in the dialogue session.

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Ms Alice Ndego, the Bongo District Director of the Commission, reiterated a need to safeguard the peace and security currently being enjoyed in the country to prevent any infiltration of activities of violent extremists.

“There have been several attacks in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali by extremist groups, even though Ghana has not experienced any extremist attacks yet, the government is fighting hard to prevent such invasion.

“Terrorism and other forms of violence including violent extremism have the potential to derail the democratic gains Ghana has made as a country and so we should not loose guard and allow misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, provocative utterance, fake news, intemperate language etc. to mislead us to cause tensions to destabilize the peace of the country” she said.

Ms Ndego made the call during an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting held at Bongo in the Upper East Region to take inputs of stakeholders to prepare for the December 7, 2024, elections.

The meeting, organised by the NCCE was part of the European Union sponsored project dubbed “preventing and containing violent extremism” and was held on the theme “Together we can build Ghana, so get involved”.

As a commission, Ms Ndego noted, it would continue to work to influence the conscience of the citizenry aimed at reducing voter apathy, increase citizens participation and rally citizens to make informed choices that will work for collective interest.

“To sustain peace, promote national cohesion, Ghanaians must unite to consolidate our gains towards progressively implementing the principles and laws enshrined in the Constitution.

“We are one people, one nation with a common destiny. Our role as citizens of Ghana is to live by the principles and dictates of the 1992 Constitution and contribute meaningfully to the democratic development of our dear country, Ghana,” she added.

Dr Imurana Mohammed, NCCE National Director for Programmes, said the youth who formed majority of the country’s population were usually targeted to cause trouble and urged the youth to desist from being recruited to destabilise the country.

He urged political parties to employ a dialogue as a good mechanism to resolving their differences to prevent such issues from escalating to violence to sustain the peace and stability.

Assistant Superintendent Adinkrah Kofi, an Immigration Officer with the Ghana Immigration Service, who took the participants through violent extremism conflicts and ways of resolving them, urged the political parties to train their supporters to tolerate divergent views.

He said respect for one another was a major tool to ensuring peace and as the country geared towards the general elections in December, the country needed to unite and deepen the existing democratic gains.

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He said despite the myriad of challenges confronting the nation, Ghana remained a shining example in the Sub-region in terms of political stability and economic growth.

Speaking at separate engagements with various groups as part of the 2024 Constitution Week, Mr Wiredu underscored the need for Ghanaians to rise to their civic duty of defending the Constitution to help sustain Ghana’s young democracy.

The Constitution Week, which is an annual program by the NCCE to sensitize citizens on the 1992 Constitution and its relevance to national development, is being celebrated on the theme: “Together, We Can Build Ghana: So, Get Involved.”

The Municipal Director charged Ghanaians to actively take part in the electoral processes leading up to the 2024 general election.

“We all have roles to play as citizens in ensuring the 2024 general election becomes successful and we have to wake up to that responsibility by taking a meaningful part in all the electoral processes starting from the ongoing voter registration, voter exhibition, and voting peacefully on the election day,” he said.

“The Constitution bestows the sovereignty of Ghana on the citizens, and sovereignty is principally exercised at the polls where we go to decide who to lead us in the next four years and give that person and parliamentarians our power through voting.”

Mr Wiredu said voting was a democratic right and a civic responsibility at the same time and, therefore, encouraged all unregistered eligible persons of 18 years and above to register to be able to exercise their franchise on December 7.

Ghanaians must be abreast of the content of the Constitution to appreciate their responsibilities as citizens to propel the political and socio-economic development of the country, he added.

DWM has said women’s inclusion in all facets of society is a proven path toward fostering a fair and peaceful world.

This was contained in a statement signed by the President, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, to commemorate 2024 International Women’s Day.

“DWM urges the government to ensure women are well-represented on commissions and other institutions mandated to work on the promotion of peace and security by reviewing our national constitution,” the statement read in parts.

It further charged the institutions to intensify their efforts to sensitise the public in order to enhance understanding and support for gender equality policies.

“DWM encourages all institutions, organizations, political parties, and well-meaning Ghanaians to recognize the significance of the year 2024, our election year. DWM calls for the inclusion of more women in all institutional processes to ensure a smooth and peaceful election,” the statement reads.

The statement further encouraged women to reshape their perception and step up as leaders, emphasising that there is no force more powerful than determined women.

“Together, we can inspire one another to dream big, break barriers, push boundaries, and foster a sense of belonging and inclusion where every woman feels valued, respected, and empowered to live and thrive.

“On this International Women’s Day, let us commit ourselves to the principles of inspiration and inclusion, stand in solidarity with one another, uplift marginalized voices, and work towards a future where every woman has the opportunity to reach her full potential,” it said.

DWM noted that the theme for the global celebration,”Inspire Inclusion” serves as a powerful reminder of the impact each person can make in the lives of others. It emphasised that whether through words, actions, or advocacy, individuals have the opportunity to inspire positive change and create a more inclusive world for future generations.

“As members of this dynamic women’s group, let us seize this opportunity to uplift and amplify the voices of women from all walks of life. Let us celebrate our differences, our similarities, and recognize the unique contributions each of us brings to the table.”

DWM applauded women and girls across the globe for their incredible efforts in making the world more equitable and fair. It also acknowledged all individuals, organisations, and institutions whose invaluable contributions continue to fight for gender equality.

“As we come together to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we are reminded of the incredible strength, resilience, and diversity within our community. Today, we honor not only the progress we have made but also the journey ahead toward greater inclusion and empowerment for all women.”

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He said parents had a crucial role in shaping the lives of their children, and their ability to instill in them discipline and orderliness would enable them to become responsible citizens and guard themselves against violent extremists. 

“Your children would only be able to cater for your needs at your old age when you train them to be responsible and as parents, that task is on you now to instill in them discipline, to enable them to resist the activities of violent extremists and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he added.

Mr Elbazer said this when he engaged parents and guardians at Gane-Asonge in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region on violent extremism.

The engagement formed part of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) project being implemented by the NCCE across eight border regions of the country, including the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono, Bono East, and the Oti Regions.

It is being funded by the European Union (EU) and aimed at creating awareness about violent extremism and facilitating activities to engender among the citizens of Ghana, security consciousness, social inclusiveness, community cohesion, and situational awareness.

He emphasised that the youth were the targets of the violent extremists, and parents had a role to play in helping their children guard themselves against radicalization.

The Principal Civic Education Officer of the NCCE, Nabdam District, Fatima Atamina Mohammed, said the peace being enjoyed could not be taken for granted and underscored the need for parents to be vigilant and help the security agencies fight crime.

According to her, “security is a collective responsibility, and as citizens, it is bestowed on us to help the security agencies, since they cannot be everywhere at the same time, by reporting to them suspicious characters and other activities that have the tendency to mar the peace we are enjoying.”.

The National Deputy Director of the NCCE, Victor Brobbey, urged parents to help the NCCE advance education on violent extremism by speaking to their children and others on occasions, for the maintenance of peace for development to thrive.

Mr Norbert Naab Tulbil, a participant, expressed gratitude to the NCCE for the education on security consciousness but bemoaned that unemployment was a serious problem frustrating the youth and needed to be tackled.

He said: “For the youth not to be lured because of their financial dependency and curiosity, the government needs to tackle the issue of unemployment, and this includes creating job opportunities and ensuring that those who are 60 years old go on retirement without contract, to pave the way for the youth.”

“We want peace in Ghana, because we don’t have anywhere to go,” she said.

Mr Addy made the appeal at community engagement on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) and issues on regarding with at-risk groups at Titiaka, a farming community in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region.

The programme was sponsored by the European Union and was being undertaken in 59 Districts in Ghana’s eight Northern Border Regions.

The face-to-face engagement aims at engendering peace, tolerance and participation in the fight against violent extremism.

She said citizens from other countries such Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, among others preferred coming to Ghana because of the relative peace we are having, so nothing should be done to disturb this peace.

“Let us open our minds and be mindful that the upcoming 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections will not divide us,” she said.

Ms Addy said as human beings, misunderstandings were bound to occur, but how they were resolved peacefully mattered most.

She said there was the need to tolerate divergent views and respect others’ rights and legitimate interests.

Mr Robert Kwesi Boame, the Oti Regional Director of the NCCE, called on the participants to report suspicious characters to lawful agencies for prompt action, as threat of terrorists attacking communities was real.

He said terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo and Nigeria posed a serious threat to Ghana’s peace and security, and it called for security consciousness among the citizenry as the country was not immune to such attacks.

Mr Setriakor Kwesi Gagakuma, the Deputy Oti Regional Director of NCCE asked the participants, especially the youth not to be lured into joining violent extremist groups, as they were the target of terrorist recruiters.

He also advised landlords, opinion leaders and Chiefs to check the background of visitors who came to their communities, as terrorists often camouflaged themselves as visitors and carry out their activities unawares.

Mr Sena Nyabi, the Chief of Titiaka appealed for the reshaping of the roads from Koto-Nkwanta to Titiaka, and the provision of a Teachers’ Bungalow for the Titiaka D/A Primary School.

The participants commended the NCCE for organisating the programme.

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There have been alleged reports of increasing vote-buying in Ghana’s politics, which reared its ugly face at the just-ended NPP parliamentary primaries. Many political watchers have said the phenomenon is gradually raising the cost of elections in the country.

As a result, the MP for Asante Akim North Constituency and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi, could not hold back his pain after spending a huge amount of money for a win.

In a media address following his constituency’s election, the MP vowed to quit if nothing is done by the party to resolve the problem. “There’s no money in the party. It’s too expensive…there’s no benefit in spending a lot on such events.”

However, speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, Mr. Baafi blamed the vote-buying phenomenon on the ineffectiveness of the NCCE to promote civic awareness as it is mandated.

He criticised the NCCE’s role in fostering civic awareness, stating that there is a pressing need for a more robust and proactive approach to educating voters on their civic responsibilities.

“The NCCE needs to create consciousness about the implications and repercussions. It’s like people have taken it for granted. It appears the NCCE is, in a way, sleeping. It is about time we bring back the civil work to create consciousness,” he suggested.

He emphasised that despite the NCCE’s mandate to promote civic education, there have been persistent challenges in reaching a wide audience and effectively communicating key electoral information.

Mr. Baafi further highlighted instances where voters lacked crucial knowledge about the electoral process, contributing to misinformation and potential disenfranchisement.

The NCCE is an independent, non-partisan governance institution set up under Article 231 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

The Commission works to promote and sustain democracy and inculcate in the Ghanaian citizenry awareness of their rights and obligations through civic education.

Elections play a crucial role in democracy, offering citizens the chance to choose leaders who will advocate for their concerns and influence the direction of their country’s future.

However, the integrity of elections in Ghana is under significant threat due to the emergence of the practice of vote-buying.

This critique comes at a crucial time, as nations continue to grapple with the complexities of conducting transparent and informed elections.

The perspective raises important questions about the role of civic education in shaping a well-informed electorate and underscores the need for continuous improvement in the mechanisms employed by institutions like the NCCE.

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It said despite several efforts to promote women participation in governance and decision-making processes to bridge the gender gap, promote sustainable development, both at the national and local levels, the task to getting women aspire for leadership positions remained a herculean challenge. 

The Upper East Regional Director of the Commission, Mawuli Agbenu, who expressed these concerns in an interview with the Ghana News Agency was reacting to the small number of women aspirants in this year’s election in the region. 

Statistics from the Electoral Commission (EC) revealed that no woman had filed to contest in this year’s election in three out of the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies across the region namely; Garu, Tempane and Nabdam. 

Apart from that, despite a total of 949 people filing to contest in the District Assembly elections in the region, only 25 are women. 

Similarly, only 156 women out of the 1,936 have filed to contest in the Unit Committee elections across the region. 

This, the Regional Director stressed, was, “woeful and we don’t even know how many of them will win” but encouraged Ghanaians to vote for more women in the upcoming election to increase the representation of women in decision making structure at the local level. 

He indicated that the participation of women in decision making process was not only crucial to addressing the numerous challenges confronting the growth and progress of women and children, but necessary ingredient to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Mr Agbenu said apart from the financial burden which was compelling many women not to put themselves up for leadership positions, there were some sociocultural norms and barriers that needed to be removed to strengthen and empower women towards taking up leadership roles in governance. 

“When women are not represented at the decision-making table, their concerns, and interests and that of their children’s are mostly not considered.  

“Apart from that, more than half of the workforce of the informal sector in this country are women and if they are not involved in decision making, it means that their economic opportunities and interests are not being taken care of, forcing them to remain in poverty,” he lamented. 

He said while the NCCE would continue to intensify education for more women participation in governance, it was imperative for the government to honour the 1992 Constitutional provision by appointing more women into governance. 

Mr Joachim Elbazar, Nabdam District Director of the NCCE, told the GNA that women play pivotal role in shaping families and society while contributing to the country`s economy, but their low participation in politics, particularly in the DLE, was defeating the advocacy for women’s empowerment. 

“It is time women took courage to contest for positions to lead and not see themselves as followers all the time because they can be better leaders as well, and I call on them to come out strongly in opportunities like this to make a case for themselves,” he stated.

Madam Kathleen Addy, the Chairperson of the Commission, said the debate would enable the flag bearers and independent candidates to communicate their policies and programmes to the citizenry, while Parliamentary candidates would also get platforms to interact with electorates in their constituencies. 

“Apart from these, the debate will also serve as a tension breaker. Because whilst political party candidates may create different platforms for their campaigns, this common platform will let them come together and show to the people that, look, we are not enemies, we are just competing candidates at an election,” she added. 

Madam Addy said this when a delegation from the United Nations (UN) office in Ghana paid a courtesy call on the Commission to address issues of elections and security. 

An inter-party dialogue committee, she said, had been set up at what was called “buffer zones” for conflict resolution at the grassroots levels in every constituency. 

“The committees hold meetings at the grassroots levels to see how things that could escalate probably into conflict can be nipped in the bud,” she stated.  

The Chairperson appealed for financial and logistical support to enable it to undertake educational activities across the country towards the election. 

The activities were necessary, she said, to draw the attention of politicians to be mindful of their utterances in order not to create tension among the citizenry, especially the youth. 

The Commission was also creating platforms for youth interactions through political party youth activist workshops, she said, explaining “We call it workshop because it serves as capacity building for them to understand the roles of engagement in the political space, for example going on political procession and demonstration and they need to understand the regulations.” 

“We also have in-school clubs for young persons and we use such platforms for engagement,” she added. 

A critical issue for the Commission for next year’s election, which was becoming central this time, she said was “religion” and “religion intolerance”, hence the Commission would organise inter-faith dialogue platforms to address and control it. 

“In addition to that, we will be holding processions between people of different faiths coming together to preach the message of peace and have fun games with people from different religious groupings. 

“So that we can really show to the people that in Ghana, we have lived peacefully from Islam to Christianity, so the fact that this time around, one candidate is a Christian and the other is a Muslim would not break us apart,” she said. 

Madam Angeline Nkwenkam Nguedjeu, Peace and Development Advisor (PDA) from the United Nations (UN) – Ghana, who led the delegation, commended the NCCE for the measures put in place to ensure peace and security in the coming election. 

She said their mission was to identify which areas the UN could offer support as it always provided assistance by deploying election observers and gave assurance that the information gathered would be submitted to the principals of the UN for their response. 

Other members of the delegation were Dr Mathias Awonnatey, UN-Ghana, Manus Macatteu, UN-DPPA, and Ms Ecoma Alaga, Senior Political Affairs Officer/West Africa Team Lead of the UN. 

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This, the NCCE said, would help prevent the situation where young vulnerable people would be swayed and divided along religious lines by inflammatory comments and hate speeches from some politicians who are putting religion at the centre of the forthcoming election.  

The Chairperson of the NCCE, Kathleen Addy, who made this known in Accra last Tuesday, emphasised that “we are going to take the education around religious tolerance very serious this political season and we are going to call out the politicians who choose to use religion as a basis for their campaign”.

She made the remark in an interview on the sidelines of a meeting with a delegation from the Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion and Faith Leaders from the Gambia, Sierra Leone and Malawi.

The meeting was facilitated by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), a not-for-profit organisation, under its Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network (FOBLN) project.

Under the project, Parliamentary Caucuses on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB) have been launched in the three visiting countries with Ghana being the latest to launch its FORB.

The delegation were made up of the Executive Member of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, Sheikh Muhamad Jaitih; General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Rev. Dr Usman Jesse Fornah; a religious leader from the Gambia, Very Rev. James Cole, and the Chairperson of FORB Caucus National Assembly of the Gambia, Amadou Camara.

The rest were Minority Leader in the Sierra Leonean Parliament, Abdul Kargbo; Deputy Majority Leader of the Gambian Parliament, Abdoulie Ceesay; the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Dowa West Constituency in Malawi, Dr Ephraim Abel Kayembe, and the MP for Kono Constituency in Sierra Leone, Musa Fofanah.

New phenomenon

Ms Addy said there was a new phenomenon that the country hadn’t experienced in the political landscape which was to have two flag bearers from the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress with different religious affiliations. 

She said it was unfortunate that “already we have seen some politicians attempt to divide people on the basis of religion and we at NCCE are committed to ensure that those attempts to divide the people do not happen in the run-up to the 2024 election.”

“Religious tolerance is a very key pillar in our work.

We have seen how religious divide has been so costly in terms of loss of lives and properties in other countries and we don’t want our country to go down that road as we are also in the political season,” she stressed. 

The Chairperson urged Ghanaians to reject those politicians who would use this political season to divide the citizenry particularly the vulnerable ones such as the youth.

She said as a country, Christians and Muslims had lived together peacefully by respecting each other’s religion for many years. 

Delegation

Rev. Dr Fornah, for his part, commended the country for maintaining a high level of religious tolerance over the years, saying it was a similar situation that was existing in Sierra Leone although it was torn apart by civil war.

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In a statement, NCCE noted that, a punishment will serve as a deterrent to others.

The group identified as constituency organisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) invaded UTV studios during a live telecast of its Saturday entertainment show, ‘United Showbiz’.

Following the swift intervention of the police, about 16 people were arrested and have since been granted inquiry bail.

NCCE has therefore applauded the police for their swiftness and urged the Service to follow the matter to its logical conclusion and punish the offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

Below is the full statement

The commission has further encouraged Ghanaians, especially political parties and actors to avoid intemperate language and uphold the culture of political tolerance enshrined in the Fourth Republican 1992 Constitution.

The Garu District Director of the NCCE in the Upper East Region, Samuel Atando Akolgo also commended the citizens, particularly for their cooperation and peaceful participation.

He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) about the just-ended limited voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission.

Civic responsibility

Mr Akolgo said the Commission during the exercise also educated the citizens on the need to be enrolled onto the voters’ register to help consolidate the democratic credentials of the country through participating in elections.

He explained that, despite the initial challenges and concerns raised, Ghanaians were able to ensure the exercise was peaceful and successful.

“The exercise was successful and peaceful, and the Commission appreciates the participation of the citizenry in the exercise. We want to encourage citizens who have lost their voters’ card to take advantage of the window that has been opened by the EC from October 3, 2023,” he added.

At the end of the limited voter registration exercise, provisional statistics revealed that the EC registered 2,965 persons comprising 1,345 males and 1,620 females in the Garu District.

Nine people’s registrations were, however, challenged.

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In a statement dated September 25, 2023, the independent state institution said there was absolutely no justification for the alleged heavy-handedness and excessive response by personnel to the demonstrators.

“Indeed, it is unfortunate that after 30 years of constitutional democracy, the Police Service often appears to have difficulty responding to basic crowd control challenges and, all too frequently, resort to heavy-handed tactics,” it added.

Caution

However, the NCCE also cautioned citizens that fundamental human rights were not absolute and that demonstrations, processions and other expressions of citizens’ discontent must happen within the confines of the law.

“The Commission reiterates the need for all Ghanaians, including the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary, state institutions,  political parties, civil society organisations, and the clergy to unite and work together to help consolidate and preserve Ghana’s democracy in order to bequeath to posterity, a democracy better than what we inherited,” it said. 

Background

About 49 protesters participating in the protest dubbed; “Occupy Jubilee House” were arrested last Thursday for allegedly defying a court injunction secured by the police to ban the demonstration.

The protesters, made up mainly of the youth, were spotted in red and black attires with red bands around their heads and arms.

The first 30 protesters, who gathered at the assembly point, were arrested by police officers in riot gear and taken away in waiting buses.

Later, an additional group of about 19 protesters were also arrested and taken together with those arrested.

Demand

Among their reasons for organising the demonstration was a demand for the government to implement sustainable measures to alleviate the difficulties in the country.

They are also demanding some reforms, including improved governance, measures to fight corruption, reduction in the high cost of living, good economic management and improved relief packages for the citizenry, among other things.

Despite the alleged brutality, the group went on to demonstrate for two more days at the entrance of the 37 Military Hospital.

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She said coup d’état was not the solution to the country’s problems, stressing the need for Ghanaians to continue to uphold the tenets of democracy to sustain the gains made.

“We cannot afford to erode the hard won gains of our democracy…Indeed, when it comes to coups, Ghana has been there – we have done that and we know for a fact that nothing good can come of it,” she said.

Addy said this in Accra when she launched the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the NCCE, to mark three decades of the Commission’s existence.

It was on the theme: “Thirty Years of Sustaining Ghana’s Democracy Through Effective Civic Education.”

Established by the 1992 Constitution, the NCCE is mandated to educate Ghanaians on civic matters.

Activities earmarked for the anniversary include high-level panel discussion with statesmen on the role of independent government institutions such as the Electoral Commission and National Media Commission, in sustaining Ghana’s democracy, visits to the three Arms of Government, and a civic awards ceremony to recognise patriotic citizens and nation builders.

Addy noted that Ghana had made significant progress since it returned to democratic rule three decades ago, building a thriving electoral democracy, upholding the rule of law and fundamental human rights and freedoms.

However, recent happenings in the West African sub-region and the world at large were concerns that could not be ignored.

Also factors such as economic hardship, monetisation of politics and the emergence of fake news, misinformation and disinformation were threats to the country’s democracy, she said, and urged Ghanaians not to forget the years of instability the country endured post-colonial era.

“Nothing good came out of the multiple coup d’états we experienced in Ghana. Nothing but oppression, fear, widespread atrocities and a culture of silence that those who did not live through the era can never imagine or understand,” Ms Addy said.

She pledged the NCCE’s resolve to continue to faithfully discharge its mandate through sustaining awareness of the principles and objectives of the 1992 Constitution, educating and encouraging the public to always defend it, and formulating programmes for national, regional and district level for government’s consideration.

“Today, as we pause to acknowledge how far we have come, we must also reflect on what the next 30 years should look like for the Commission and Ghana,” she added.

Stephen Anzantilow, the Director of Anti-Corruption, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said the NCCE was an important institution to the work of CHRAJ.

The NCCE had assisted CHRAJ to protect the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians, insist on accountability and on the respect for the values of democracy in the country.

“We are hoping that in the next years to come we will have opportunities to do more things together, because in sustaining democracy, it is important that all independent constitutional bodies will have to work together. That is the only way by which we can achieve success,” he said.

Samuel Asare Akuamoah, the Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, NCCE, said Ghanaians needed to see some results on the recent calls for constitution amendment, indicating that those reforms were necessary for strengthening the country’s democracy.

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Ms Josephine Nkrumah was honoured in recognition of her work in public service, advocacy, civil rights and the promotion of democratic values.

Delivering the keynote address, Ms Nkrumah spoke on the theme; ‘Accountable Leadership, Responsible Citizenship; Reorientation of Mindset for Liberia’s Forward March.’

She expressed gratitude for ECOWAS-Liberia relations and was full of praise for the University of Liberia. She again thanked Liberians for the warmth of friendship since she began work in April 2022. 

Consistent with her convictions, Ms Nkrumah acknowledged the peace-building efforts of Liberia since the dark days of the war. She praised the hard work and determination of the nation to ensure national cohesion.

According to her, constitutional integrity should be protected through responsible citizenship, to shield democratic gains. She endorsed civic education as one of the important elements needed to protect and sustain the gains of democracy.

Ms Nkrumah was of the view that an imbalance in leadership and citizenship roles could threaten democracy. She stated low-level corruption by citizens, corruption in the public sector by technical experts, corruption in the judiciary to deny justice for the poor, and sexual and gender-based violence as negative traits that retrogressed development.  

“Religious institutions are being used to spew dissension rather than preach peace for development. All these vices including inciteful language and vitriolic utterances that fester in the political ecosystem undermine development in the nation,” she emphasised.

Touching on Liberia’s forward march, Ms Nkrumah said that requires, “deliberate and intentional reorienting of mindset through active civic education and engagement to nurture citizen-leaders that demonstrate responsible citizenship and accountable leadership.”

She advocated the need for a pivotal role of the family, education, and religious spheres of society can play in mindset reorientation. 

Ms Nkrumah was optimistic that the recent efforts at reintroducing civics into the school curriculum in Liberia were a step in the right direction for the country’s forward march. 

She congratulated the University of Liberia on its collaborative drive with other academic institutions, training young graduates as valuable contributors to nation-building and the advancement of the sub-region. 

She also encouraged Liberian academic institutions to formulate cutting-edge programs, collaborating with relevant institutions to enhance capacity and deepen knowledge.

“Our universities must pursue evidence-based assessment of relevant programs that address contemporary needs of the people of Liberia focusing on research excellence and readiness to connect dots with policies relevant to a national development agenda,” she added.

She charged universities to prioritise the training of students as entrepreneurs and not employees to accelerate job creation for Liberia’s economic growth.

Ms Nkrumah congratulated the graduates and charged them to go into the world with renewed optimism and resilience not only for their advancement but also in patriotic service to Liberia, the ECOWAS community and the world.

She concluded with a quote by the visionary leader, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of independent Ghana when he said “…For this end, Africa needs a new type of citizen, a dedicated, modest, honest and informed (wo)man. A (wo)man who submerges self in service to the nation and mankind. A (wo)man who abhors greed and detests vanity. A new type of (wo)man whose humility is his strength and whose integrity is his greatness…”

The President of the University of Liberia, Rev. Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson Jr. commended Ms Nkrumah for championing accountable leadership and responsible citizenship during her stay in the country.

He also congratulated the graduates and charged them to make use of the knowledge gained from the University and serve as change agents for national development.

Previous commencement speakers at the University of Liberia Convocation events have included personalities such as Dr George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and H.E. John Agyekum Kuffuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana.

In a statement signed by the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Joyce Afutu, it said the trend is gradually negatively redefining the identity of Ghanaians.

The Commission, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to support moves to re-affirm Ghanaian values and identity.

“Among the concerns of the NCCE is the lack of respect for national symbols. Every citizen must respect our national symbols and promote the good name of Ghana wherever they find themselves. Indeed, Article 41 (a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana makes this a constitutional obligation.

“The NCCE reminds citizens that national symbols such as the National Pledge, the National Anthem, the National Flag, the Coat of Arms, the Ghana Currency and the Mace of Parliament among other symbols and State identities must be respected. These symbols identify us, as citizens of Ghana and they must be accorded the requisite levels of recognition and decorum,” parts of the statement read.

The release comes days after a Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI, Chief of Mempeasem near East Legon in the Ayawaso East District of the Greater Accra region failed to stand and observe the National Anthem while it was played at a public function.

In a viral video from last week’s Green Ghana Day celebration, President Akufo-Addo was seen angrily directing the Greater Accra Regional Minister to force the chief to fall in line.

The event which was commemorated at the University of Ghana, took an interesting turn when the Minister, Henry Quartey subsequently walked to the chief to have a word with him.

Although the chief has since apologised, the NCCE reiterated that the national symbols are sacred and they contain words that embody the values of Ghanaians with one destiny, thus, the need to observe them.

“No one is born a good citizen and that is why the NCCE believes that we must be deliberate about nurturing good citizens with patriotic values. Let us, as citizens, appreciate our civic duty, and collectively uphold and safeguard our patriotic values and national symbols for today’s generation and posterity.”

Read full statement below:

He was of the opinion that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is not funded to work effectively so citizens stay ignorant.

Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam, he stated one of the challenges of every developing country is the fact that its population or citizenry are generally ignorant.

“Because politicians thrive on the ignorance of the people, an organization like the NCCE will not be resourced so they work effectively.

“And the politician today knows that an enlightened citizenry is a danger to their continuous sustenance. If the people are knowledgeable, politicians will face challenges in governance. So we [politicians] will not fund the NCCE well so that people will be ignorant,” he said.

He further proposed that the needed resources are provided:

“How we solve that problem depends on the citizens’ knowledge or awareness, public awareness that we need. You see one of the challenges of every developing country that unfortunately leaders take for granted, either they themselves do not know or take for granted is the calibre of people they lead, whether they are knowledgeable or ignorant.

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 “Before you can develop, sometimes you have to spend a lot of time bringing some enlightenment among your citizenry. And your people are enlightened they tend to demand accountability and they tend to ensure that they will always take you on and they will keep you on your toes.”

He added that “if you’re are very aware of the calibre of people you’re presiding over it reduces the level of bribery and corruption.”

The visit by the NCCE forms part of series of engagements with some prominent Ghanaian personalities, especially as Madam Addy assumes the position as the new head of the Commission.

Former President Mahama warmly welcomed the NCCE delegation and congratulated Madam Addy on her appointment.

He entreated her to lead with integrity and to revive and nurture civic consciousness among Ghanaians.

The former President gave the assurance that his doors are always open to the Commission to support effective civic education in the country.

Former President Mahama used the opportunity to raise some issues of national concern and urged the NCCE to consider some of these issues in their engagements in a bid to promote nation-building and national cohesion.

Chairman of NCCE, Kathleen Addy, expressed delight about the warm reception accorded her by the former President and welcomed his suggestion to strengthen the work of the NCCE.

She said the NCCE will continue to actively engage and empower citizens including political actors to promote a civic-conscious society.

Present at the meeting were senior staffers at the office of the former President as well as Commission Members and Directors of NCCE.

On Monday, she appealed to the Chairperson of ECOWAS, President Akufo-Addo, for his support in the discharge of her new role when she paid him a courtesy visit at the Jubilee House to formally tender her resignation.

“Thank you for seeing me. A few weeks ago, I came to see you about an offer. I sought your blessing before I made the final decision on whether to take up the offer. You graciously gave me some months to wait, and I said yes.

“Following that conversation, certain processes have gone on, and as we speak, I just offered my letter of acceptance to ECOWAS to be the ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia.

“As the father of the land and appointing authority, I deemed it necessary to come and see you and officially tender in my resignation, which will take effect on April 30,” she said.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo congratulated Madam Nkrumah on her new position, describing the news as “momentous.”

The President urged her to give her utmost best to bring prestige to herself and Ghana.

“Congratulations. Seeing the work you have done, I have no doubt this is a job you are going to do to bring credit to yourself and us, your country, Ghana. So I have to wish you the best of luck, and at a time, I’m also the Chair of ECOWAS. So, both of us are carrying the country on our shoulders,” he said.

According to the ECOWAS Chair, her appointment comes at a critical moment since Liberia has had a “turbulent story” in the past 10 to 15 years.

He, however, noted that “I’m very confident you will give a good account of yourself there.” President Akufo-Addo also assured Madam Nkrumah of his assistance in time of need.

“We are there if there are any problems during your tenure. You know you can always count on us to step in and try to help.”

In response, Madam Nkrumah thanked President Akufo-Addo for his support and his willingness to offer counsel.

“It is important that I can always count on you for your counsel in these times. ECOWAS is a new space for me, and I’d need expertise you have carried over the years in service. So I’m happy to hear that as my President, I can count on you.”

On February 21, in a letter addressed to members and staff of the Commission, Mrs Nkrumah wrote, “Please accept my warm compliments as I notify you of my resignation as the Chairperson of this Commission effective April 30, 2022.”

Madam Nkrumah expressed gratitude to the appointing authority stating, “It is an honour to serve Ghana through this Commission as Deputy Chairperson ( April 1, 2015 – December 19, 2016) and Chairperson ( December 20 – To date).”

The outgoing Chairperson also thanked all the members and staff of the Commission for their “cooperation and support during my service to the country as Chairperson. It has been an honour and pleasure working with you.”

The Commission in a press release signed by its Chairman, Josephine Nkrumah condemned the acts by the security agencies in Ejura which resulted in the death of two residents and four others injured.

“The development is unfortunate and disturbing. Lives lost cannot be replaced,” the release said.

The NCCE commiserated with the bereaved families and friends who have lost loved one in the tragic happening.

The commission further called on heads of the security agencies to take swift action into the matter and ensure that the perpetrators in the Ejura incident are brought to book.

According to the release, the “Elements within the law enforcement agencies must not redefine violent extremism by their own acts but must enforce law and order with acceptable professional standards.”

“The actions of officers of law enforcement agencies must not bring into disrepute our national security or tarnish the image of Ghana.”

The commission also charged Ghanaians to speak against these brutalities and reiterated the need for all to refrain from acts that could worsen the already volatile situation in the Ejura Township.

Below is the full statement

Just like all vaccines, it is expected to guard against the deadly coronavirus and not to protect a person till death.

This is according to the Communications and Corporate Affairs Director of the National Commission on Civic Education, Joyce Affutu.

She has, therefore, urged Ghanaians to adhere to the laid down safety protocols even after the vaccination.

Madam Affutu revealed this during ‘the vaccine conversation’ programme hosted by Adom TV on Thursday as she reiterates the need for Ghanaians to get vaccinated.

She added the vaccine, which is free, is to be taken on the left arm and not any other part of the body.

This comes after Ghana received 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as part of efforts to vaccinate about 20 million citizens.

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The hope is that giving more people the initial dose right away will lead to fewer deaths and less pressure on the country’s already overwhelmed health facilities.

Covid-19 vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations as it kicks start on March 2, 2021.