Civic Educators urged to avoid partisan politicking

Sunyani (B/A), June 15, GNA - Mr Larry Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), on Wednesday urged civic educators and staff of the Commission to eschew partisan politicking in the discharge of their duties.

He advised the civic educators to be "versatile" in the dissemination of information to promote civic education. Mr. Bimi gave the advice at a first meeting with Brong-Ahafo regional, municipal and district directors of the Commission in Sunyani. "Non-partisanship is the culture of the Commission", he said and warned civic educators who would expose themselves to active politicking, contrary to the ethics of the Commission.

Mr. Bimi explained that civic education is a shared responsibility between the Commission and the society, stressing the need for educators to exhibit a high sense of civility in the course of their work. He announced that 10 million cedis had been disbursed to each municipal and district offices of the Commission to undertake social auditing programmes from a Government budget of 25 billion cedis earmarked for the Commission.

The NCCE Chairman expressed the hope that by the end of the programme the communities in the various districts and municipalities would demand accountability and involve themselves in 'self help' projects to enhance their lot.

Mr. Bimi announced that plans were underway for the Ministry of Information to provide the Commission with pickup vehicles to enable it to work effectively.

Mrs. Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson in-charge of programmes reiterated that good governance promotes infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, proper sanitation and economic development.

She therefore tasked civic educators of the Commission to preach the importance of constitutionalism to promote patriotism among the people to enhance democracy.

Mrs Akumanyi noted that even though some conditions of the Commission were not good, plans were ahead to build two offices in every district to enable the Commission to function well. Mr. Charles Nkromah, Regional Director of the Commission, said it had established two municipal and 12 district offices with 141 member staff in the region.

He appealed to the head office to assist the region to employ staff to fill a few more vacancies existing especially in the area of civic education officers to strengthen the staff capacity. Mr. Nkromah underscored the need for civic educators to commit themselves to promoting democracy and good governance, which he said could be done by organising themselves into a vibrant and productive workforce.

"This we can do through devotion to duty, hard work and discipline", he said.

He commended the Commission for the foresight and initiative in helping to adopt strategies, policies and concepts, which he noted had made civic education vibrant and relevant to the nation's democratic dispensation.