2nd Constitution Week From 28th April

The 2nd Constitution week will be observed from 28th April, a date ten years ago on which Ghanaians went through a National Referendum to endorse the 1992 Constitution.

At a press conference yesterday to launch the week, Mr. Larry Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education said the aim "is to sustain constitutional democracy for the achievement of political, economic and social stability by creating awareness in the citizenry to appreciate their civic responsibilities and rights through Civic Education by observing the principle of impartiality and non-partisanship using well trained, motivated and well equipped staff."

The theme for this year is, "the Constitution, Cultural Values, and Good Governance". Mr. Bimi asked the media to replicate what they did last year and even better since people in the village areas were not reached by the efforts of the press.

He said the NCCE has established offices at all the 110 districts, which would be responsible for communicating to people in their local languages to heighten their awareness and understanding of the constitution.

He said the constitution teaches how to conduct ourselves as Ghanaians; it is binding on everyone and must therefore be respected and upheld. It provides "safeguards for its longevity as it makes it an imperative right and civic duty of citizens to defend it and to do all in their power to restore this constitution after it has been suspended, overthrown or abrogated..."

He hoped that Ghanaians "will develop the culture of democracy, the courage to resist violations of their human rights and the tenacity to resist dictatorship... and attempted overthrown of the constitution."

Mr. Larry Bimi suggested that it should be entrenched in the constitution that politicians elect and chiefs yet to be outdoored should be taught as civic educators so that in their speeches to the public, they will hammer on their citizen's civic rights and responsibilities.