NCCE begins constitution week to promote democracy and peace in Ghana.

The annual constitution week celebration throughout Ghana meant improve on our democratic culture has been launched by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). The celebration which begun on April 28 to end on may 4, will be held under the theme My Ghana: The Power of One”.

In a press statement by the NCCE and signed by Mrs. Joyce Afutu, Director, Communications and Corporate Affairs, “the theme emphasizes personal responsibility and personal ownership for Ghana and the power of individual action to effect a change to make Ghana a better place”.

According to the statement, “the Annual Constitution Week is one of the flagship programs of the NCCE to commemorate the return to democratic rule in Ghana. After sustaining the constitution leading to peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another, the NCCE, in 2001, set aside 28^thApril – 4^th May of every year to commemorate the country’s return to constitutional government.

“The 28^thday of April, 1992 was the day on which Ghanaians voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to adopt the 1992 Constitution as the fundamental law of Ghana. Since the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Ghana has made significant strides toward the enjoyment of uninterrupted stable democratic governance. According to the statement, “As we commemorate this year’s Constitution Week, let us reflect on how far we have come in our democratic journey, assess our challenges and live up to our rights and responsibilities as citizens of Ghana; and strengthen our resolve to protect our national stability, peace, unity and cohesion.

“Even though Ghana is touted as an oasis for peace and the beacon of African democracy, there have been some reported cases of intolerance within sections of the Ghanaian society. Latent conflicts exist among pockets of communities, and sometimes along religious and ethnic lines. The recent interception of ammunitions by the security agencies coupled with some disturbances on our political landscape calls for a deeper reflection on the need for a concerted effort to addressed the situation especially in an election year. The Commission expresses concern about the seemingly politicisation and deepening of such conflicts especially when the country is holding general elections. Some manifestations of intolerance on the political, religious, and ethnic spaces include the use of intemperate language by politicians and individuals both in the print and on the electronic media, mob justice, abuse of individual rights, chieftaincy disputes among others. In recent times, there have been spots of violent clashes along ethnic, religious, and political lines among some sections of the country’s populace, which possess a threat to the growth and consolidation of our democracy.

“As the country goes into general elections this year, the NCCE is calling on Ghanaians to uphold the spirit of tolerance, national unity, peace, cohesion, and patriotism as guiding values for national development. It is important that we tolerate one another, and uphold peace. We urge the youth to eschew violence before, during, and after the upcoming elections. The Commission reminds Ghanaians that the 1992 Constitution, Article 35(6a) urges us to “foster a spirit of loyalty to Ghana that overrides sectional, ethnic and other loyalties”.

“The NCCE has always maintained that civic education is a shared responsibility, accordingly, the Commission is calling on all stakeholders (the Clergy, Imams,

Traditional Authorities, Political Parties, Professional Associations, Civil Society Organizations, the Media, Youth groups, Women Associations etc.) to use their platforms to preach and discuss peace, national unity, and tolerance among the people. “As Ghanaians, we should know that the consequences of political and religious intolerance are dire. Conflicts bring untold hardships, violence, displacement of citizens and wanton destruction of lives and property to the people. The NCCE therefore entreats all Ghanaians to act peacefully and guard against the occurrence of violence of any form and shape so as to avoid the sort of untold hardships that the people of Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, La Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali suffered when their countries fell into violent conflicts”.

May the Almighty God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation stronger.

LONG LIVE THE 1992 CONSTITUTION!!
LONG LIVE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY!!
LONG LIVE GHANA!!
Executive director
EANFOWORLD for sustainable development
P.O Box AN 17070 Phone 0244370345/0208844791/0274853710 [email protected]/[email protected]