The Talensi-Nabdam District office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), at the weekend held a durbar at the Tongo Junior High School (JHS) as part of activities to mark this year’s Citizenship Day Celebrations.

The NCCE has dedicated May 4 each year to educate the citizenry about their rights and duties targeting especially pupils at the JHS level by engaging experienced members of their communities as role models to share their experiences with them.

Mr Emmanuel Nachinaam Kpeungu, a retired educationist told the children that, the cardinal principle for discipline is one’s ability to know and respect national laws which could be found explicitly in the 1992 Constitution.

“As citizens, you must also respect the symbols of the nation. Our symbols like the national flag, anthem and pledge represent values we hold in high esteem; therefore paying respect to these symbols shows that as pupils you respect the State,” he emphasised.

Mr Kpeungu indicated that the country’s constitution entreats pupils to be united and live in peace with others.

He called on the children to protect public property and expose people who misuse these assets and also report people who engage in criminal activities.

The retired educationist reminded the pupils that the State expected them to contribute to national development by studying and passing their examinations, respect elders and learn from the good life styles they lived.

An official of the NCCE, Mr John Akaribo, said the durbar would be launched officially to kick start activities to educate the citizenry on their rights and responsibilities.

He said his outfit has added some innovative strategies to drum home the need for community members to get themselves involved in local activities, avoid criticisms that may spark conflicts and go about their political activities peacefully.

Key among these strategies was to intensify education by visiting communities, associations and groups, and also routine monitoring of school club activities in the district.**