NCCE outlines 2011 National Constitution Week activities

Accra, April 5, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the National Organising Committee (NOC) of the annual National Constitution Week celebration, on Tuesday outlined month-long nationwide activities. The 2011 celebration is on the theme: 93The State of Ghana's Democracy 2011" and would focus on five sub-thematic areas - The Judicial and Justice System; Political Parties; Corruption; Decentralisation; and The Media.

The celebration starts on April 19 with a media briefing, hits the high point on April 28 with the opening ceremony and main lecture at the Banquet Hall of State House in Accra and expected to end officially on May 26 with regional and district roundtable. Other activities for national, regional and district programmes includes reading of civic circulars in mosques, churches, shrines, Constitution Game Competition, radio and television discussion, Project Citizen Showcase, fora with security services, durbars, route marches and political party dialogue. Mr Farhan Laary Bimi, NCCE Chairman told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after the second NOC meeting that the celebration was to make the Constitution become a living document 93embossed" on the minds and hearts of the people for the attainment of democracy and good governance in Ghana.

He said: "Ghanaians need to develop the culture of democracy, the courage to resist violation of their human rights and the tenacity to resist dictatorship of all forms and, more particularly and fundamentally any overthrow or attempted overthrow of government". Mr Bimi noted that the Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Ghanaians throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom, and to ensure those inalienable rights to every citizen. The tradition of celebrating the Constitution Week started in 2001 to annually dedicate one month for the observance of Constitution Week.

The aims of the celebration are to emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity; informing the people that the Constitution is the basis for Ghana's great heritage and the foundation for the way of life; and to encourage the study of the Constitution. The month-long programme of activities is being organised by the NCCE with support from democratic stakeholders including Governance Africa Foundation, which has donated quantities of the Pocket Size copies of the 1992 Constitution for the celebration.