NCCE asked to embark on anti-corruption crusade

Wa, May 7, GNA - Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, has charged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to embark on educational programmes, that should be geared towards eliminating bribery and corruption from all sectors of public life. He said the rejection of these vices by citizens for the adoption and practice of virtues like honesty, probity and accountability would help accelerate peace and development in the country. "If the NCCE functions effectively, good governance which is one of His Excellency the President's aspirations will be realized in the country", he added.

Mr. Khalid said this in an address read on his behalf to launch the tenth constitutional week celebration in the region, which was organized by the regional directorate of the Commission at Wa on Thursday. The celebration had the national theme; "Enhancing constitutionalism through citizens participation for good governance"

The Regional Minister recalled the days when the erstwhile Centre for Civic Education under the chairmanship of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia had "Don't give gifts they bribe, don't accept bribes they corrupt" as its cardinal slogan and asked the NCCE to replicate that in its work. He urged staff of the Commission to continue to remain as politically neutral as possible in order to discharge their constitutionally mandated duty to ensure that every citizen of the country knew and appreciated his or her rights and responsibilities.

Mr. Ben Banye, Upper West Regional Director of the Commission, remarked that the constitution should not be seen as a "mystery Book" that should be the preserve of only Lawyers, but a document that belonged to every Ghanaian.

He said the Commission intended to deepen citizens' participation in governance this year and underscore the rule of Law in the society. Ghanaians must realize the fact that it was only through effective participation in decision making at all levels of governance that they could uphold and defend the constitution for democracy and good governance, he pointed out.

Naa Walamani Danyagri, a Traditional Ruler in the Wechiau Traditional area of the Wa West District who presided at the function, noted that polarization of the society along partisan dimensions was posing as major threat to the beauty of multi-party democracy in the country.