By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Jan 17, GNA - Miss Josephine Nkrumah, the Chairperson of National Commission on Civic Education has called on Ghanaians to be civic minded to advance national agenda for holistic development.
"We need to be civic minded and not party minded. We need to be responsive to the needs of national interest than party lines", she stated.
The Chairperson of the Commission made the call on Wednesday at this year's New Year School and Conference in Accra.
Speaking on the topic “Building a Stronger Civil Society for Effective Accountability", she said the role of third-party force or civil societies was crucial in putting pressure on government to perform its mandate in an efficient manner.
According to her, democracy must build on the strong pillars of active citizens, hence the need for the citizenry to play their roles in consolidating the country's democratic values.
Ms Nkrumah stated that citizenship education on the populace played a significant role in the growth of the nation, because when citizens were educated, they would be well informed on national issues for active participation.
The Commissioner said the establishment of the Commission was among others to help the citizens to be actively involved in democratic governance in the country.
She said in a democratic dispensation, there was rule of law, and it was imperative for the citizens to be active in governance issues as the sovereignty of the country resided in the power of the people.
Ms Nkrumah advised the public to read the Constitution to be abreast of rights and responsibilities and governance issue for independent analysis devoid of partisan debate.
She stated that citizenship education empowers the citizens to be committed in the fight against corruption and unhealthy practices that inhibited the country's developmental agenda.
The Chairperson said it was prudent for citizens to inculcate the practice of honesty in their endeavours, and be concerned about state property by speaking against infractions that would affect the well-being of all and sundry.
She said effective decentralisation would broaden the scope of development and facilitate administrative work in the districts and as well reduce the bureaucracy in the public sector.
She urged public workers to be responsive to their duties and eschew acts of laziness and practices that affected productivity in the public sector.
"Being a responsible citizen requires all to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of the community, and this can be effective through citizenship education".
She called for government support for the Commission to continue to carry out its mandate in an effective and efficient manner.
Mr Ace Anan Ankomah, the Managing Partner, Bentsil-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah said it was time for Ghanaians to recognise social movement groups as third political force to give strong competition to the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
He said the activities of social movements had contributed immensely in saving the country lots of money, urging the citizenry to consider these groups in political governance.
GNA
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