JAPAN TO GIVE NCCE 78 M CEDIS

Accra, Feb 8, The government of Japan has voted 78.3 million cedis (52,782 dollars) for the printing of public and civic education materials for Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for this year. An agreement for the release of the fund was signed on Wednesday between the government of Japan and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at a ceremony at the Japananese embassy in Accra. Mr Akihisa Tanaka, Japanese ambassador in Ghana, signed for his government while Mr Chris Hesse, Chairman of the NCCE, initialled on behalf of his organization. Mr Tanaka said his government had directed that the grant be used to print 270,000 brochures, both in English and the local languages, to enlighten especially rural citizens on their civic duties and rights, with particular reference to the forthcoming general elections.

The ambassador said two years ago, his government provided a similar grant for the production of brochures for the district level elections in Ghana. He said it was encouraging that for the past four years, the NCCE had continued to promote the democratic process in Ghana through civic education. Mr Tanaka hoped Ghanaians would continue to exercise their rights by voting massively in the forthcoming elections. He said while looking forward to having a successful election, the grant would contribute further to the mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Hesse said cooperation between Japan and the commission, which has resulted in the signing of the agreement, dated back to February, 1994, when the government of Japan granted the Presbyterian Church of Ghana's printing press 50,000 dollars to print similar civic education materials in English and 15 local languages. He said the immense impact that the printing of the materials made on the turn out at the last election could not rpt not be over emphasized. Mr Hesse said it was the civic duty of the NCCE to assist in creating a peaceful and stable socio political atmosphere within which the forthcoming election could take place in a true democratic fashion devoid of violence.