Govt supports consolidation of democracy - Nana Seinti

Wamfie (B/A) July 16, GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister has assured the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) of government's unflinching support to the consolidation of democracy in the country.

He noted that even though the NCCE is not relenting in educating the citizenry on their rights and responsibilities as contained in the 1992 constitution, "the task ahead to secure maximum points is enormous and requires a collective approach".

The Regional Minister made the point in a speech read for him at a ceremony during which the NCCE presented a 21-inch colour television and certificates to the Civic Education Club at Mansen Secondary School at Wamfie in Dormaa District in Brong Ahafo for placing fourth at this year's inter-regional constitution games competition in Accra. The games were organised by the Commission as part of activities to climax this year's Constitution Week celebration.

Nana Seinti deplored the upsurge of indiscipline among Ghanaians and advised students to help change the trend by focusing on their studies and avoiding acts of hooliganism, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and other irresponsible conduct.

He urged the NCCE to consider extending its public education campaign to cover vital areas as government policies, political tolerance, environmental degradation, HIV/AIDS, poverty reduction and the negative effects of foreign culture on the youth.

Mr. Kofi Adomah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the NCCE, noted that the Commission, in its mandatory effort to create, sustain and increase awareness about the constitution had evolved several strategies to discharge its responsibilities at workshops, fora, seminars, durbars and meetings for identifiable groups.

He said the Commission wished to focus on Civic Education Clubs, "because it is easy to imbibe in the younger generation the culture of civic virtues so they would grow to become responsible adults."

The Regional Director announced that the only setback of the Commission in dealing with the Civic Education Clubs was the perception that the clubs belonged to the NCCE and their activities therefore, rested with or emanated from the Commission.

"The NCCE shall be grateful if all stakeholders in the nation's young democracy will add their voice to the Commission's call on the Education Ministry to make the study of Civics an integral part of the schools' curricula", Mr. Adomah said.

Mr. Isaac Bernard Antwi-Kontor, Headmaster, announced that the School, which was begun in 1987 as a community-based secondary school with a few students now has 850 students.

He noted that the rapid increase in the school's intake had not corresponded with any increase in infrastructural development and appealed to the government, traditional authorities, district assembly and non-governmental organizations to come to its aid.

The headmaster suggested the financial empowerment of district assemblies so they could take full responsibility of second-cycle institutions.

"The present situation where the GETFUND is given to tertiary and a few developed second-cycle institutions is unacceptable", he said and called for the equitable distribution of funds to cover all tax payers in the country.

Nana Barimah Ansu Adjei, chief of Wamfie, who presided, pledged the traditional council's unflinching support for the activities of the club and the school.

The chief, who is also the Krontihene of the Dormaa Traditional Area reminded the students that discipline remained the only worthy legacy they could bequeath to society, "as everybody seems to be pointing to the youth as the main source of indiscipline and moral decadence".

Later in an interview with Ghana News Agency, Master Emmanuel Kyereh, school prefect, appealed to colleague students to refrain from seeking solutions to grievances through violent means. He noted that the enormity of the school's basic problems demanded that students dialogue extensively towards consensus-building with school authorities.

Among those present were Mr. Yaw Ntow Ababio, Member of Parliament for Dormaa East and Squadron Leader (rtd) Benjamin Anane Asamoah, Dormaa District Chief Executive.