NCCE embarks on post-election education on the workings of the assembly


With financial support from the European Union, EU, the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE has embarked on post-election education of citizens to raise public awareness on the concept of the local government system including the structures, roles and functions of the district assembly and unit committee members. 

The move is to rekindle community participation in the activities of local government units at the grassroots with the aim to increasing citizen’s participation in the decision making process of the assembly. 

At a media briefing held in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, Pontius Pilate Apaabey said his outfit is determined to deepen people’s understanding on the mandate of the district assemblies and has to that effect, rolled out a number of strategies to be carried out in selected communities of the region to enhance the level of awareness on the concept of the district assembly. 

Radio Ghana’s Isaac Asare reports that the meeting discussed pertinent issues bordering on the structures as well roles and responsibilities of the district assembly and unit committee members. 

As part of its constitutional mandate to promote democracy and deepen citizen’s awareness on the concept and structures of the district assemblies, the NCCE has been at the forefront and has on countless times embarked on community sensitization to educate the masses on the need to participate actively in decision making at the assembly level and also contribute and demand accountability from duty bearers. 

In spite of the vigorous community engagements, most people still have little knowledge on the workings of the assemblies and its members. 

Majority are not able to come to terms with the functions of the district assembly members and that of the unit committee. 

Due to voter apathy and ignorance, district level elections had over the years experienced low voter turnout. This has obviously threatened the concept of the local governance system because people do not see the need to contribute meaningfully to decisions taking at the assembly level. 

It is for this reason that the NCCE is embarking on a nationwide campaign to whip up the enthusiasm of the citizenry to understand the local assembly concept. 

As a way forward, the office of the NCCE in the Upper East is undertaking a district level community engagement is some selected districts namely; Bongo, Bolga municipal, Talensi, Garu as well as Kassena-Nankana Municipal and Kassena-Nankana West. 

This will be done through focus group discussions and community durbars. 

Moreover, plans are far afoot to reactivate the district inter party dialogue committees, which are bodies that play very critical role in holding political parties to adhere to political party codes of conduct. 

According to the Regional Director of the NCCE, the outreach program will equally be scaled up at the school level targeting the students, teachers as well as the PTA’s.

Mr. Apaabey said the NCCE acknowledges the invaluable support and partnership of the media and other key stakeholders in its advocacy work and called for their continuous cooperation.

The Assistant Director of the NCCE at the headquarters, Mary Nyamekye Ankrah, expressed regret that majority of the citizenry possess little knowledge on the roles and responsibilities of assembly and unit committee member’s despite the vigorous public education at the community level. 

She described the situation as worrying as assembly members go through challenging times to meet the demand of their electorates. 

Mrs. Nyamekye Ankrah, urged the media to assist the NCCE perform its advocacy role efficiently by using their medium to inform the citizenry on the assembly concept.



GBC