Constitution Day is not ‘just another holiday’ - Prof Bondzi-Simpson

Professor Philip Ebo Bondzi-Simpson has advised Ghanaians not to take the newly instated ‘Constitution Day’ lightly but reflect soberly on the past and its ‘huge’ significance on the 1992 constitution.

Speaking at a public lecture held in Accra to commemorate the day, The Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) established that there’s no better way to mark the new holiday than educating citizens through district forums that would help examine how far the country has come with its constitutional democracy.

“I’m aware the country has enjoyed a lot of holidays. I hope it’s not ‘another holiday’ and I would suggest that it be a day of sober reflection and public education. Let’s also re-orient ourselves to improve upon public service and constitutionalism. I would also suggest that on a day like this the commemoration should not be limited to a public lecture but be proceeded at every district with a citizen’s forum,” he asserted.

Professor Bondzi-Simpson further asked government and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to not only institutionalize the holiday but allow citizens participate through effective sensitization and re-orientation.

The maiden ‘Constitution Day’ public lecture organised by the Ministry of Information has held a public lecture was under the theme, “Constitutionalism in The Fourth Republic towards Functional Performance” to commemorate ‘Constitution Day’.

7th January has been set aside by the Akufo-Addo administration to recognize the coming into force of the 1992 constitution and the beginning of the 4th Republic.

Prior to that, government presented a bill before parliament to amend the Public Holidays Act to include January 7, August 4 and September 21 as statutory public holidays.

It also made July 1, formerly a Republic Day holiday, a commemorative day just as May 25, which was AU Day holiday.