Ekumfi Asaafa C/R, May 4, GNA - The people of Ekumfi Asaafa in the Mfantsiman East Municipality have expressed displeasure over 93the slow pace of development" in the area and said it was their constitutional right to have portable water in the village. They said they also lack good roads and other social amenities and that they are not beneficiaries of the School Feeding Programme and and free school uniforms.

The people expressed these concerns during an open forum after the launch of the 11th Annual Constitution Week celebration at Ekumfi Asaafa under the theme 93The State of Democracy in Ghana 2011" organized by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE). They said the only bridge in the village was damaged making life difficult for them as they are unable to cart their farm produce to market centres.

The people said their women needed loans to enable them engage in small scale trading activities. In response, Mr. Kweku Hayfron, the Municipal Chief Executive, assured the people that the government would improve their living standards.

The Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr. Charles Nkrumah, stressed the need for Ghanaians to be conversant with the constitution to enable them to actively participate and appreciate the activities of government and political parties.

Mr. Nkrumah said Ghana had carved a niche for itself as a true democratic state and that it was time the citizenry appreciated this achievement and offer meaningful inputs to help the country further solidify and sustain its democracy.

Mr. Sakara Adamu, the Municipal Director of NCCE, said the country's democratic dispensation would be more vibrant if Ghanaians got acquainted with the constitution and put governments on their toes.

He said Ghana's democracy had stood the test of time through the tenacity of political parties and other stakeholders. Nana Annobil III, chief of Ekumfi Asaafa who chaired the function, said it was important for all Ghanaians to participate in the governance of the country.