Reports reaching Chronicle on Saturday from the Kwahu South District in the Eastern Region indicate that, the district’s branch of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) which was constitutionally established to educate the public on their constitutional rights and responsibilities, has abandoned its constitutional duties and said to be cunningly campaigning for individuals who are seeking political power in the Nkawkaw constituency.
The reports alleged that the commission is using a sponsorship package enjoyed from some individuals to project them to the people against the incumbent Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Hon Kwabena Adusah Okerehiere and for that matter the NPP government.
“They tell the people that their activities being sponsored by Mr A or B and will go ahead and asked the people to thank and support those individuals,” one source said. The report said the situation if not checked, would bring confusion and confrontation in the area since some people intend confronting those making such unconstitutional moves. Another source alleged, that, the action by the NCCE, which has already created tension among the electorate in the area, had been reported to the local press but nothing has been done about the situation.
The Kwahu Sough Director of NCCE, Mr Felix Jacob Obeng-Forson, has however denied that any of his staff has embarked on a campaign for an individual or a political party. He said the duty of NCCE “is to educate the public on their constitutional rights and responsibilities” and also explain government policies to the people. The director said, he would not allow any of his staff to use the commission’s platform for his or her political propaganda.
He explained that, in October last year, they appealed to the public for sponsorship to enable the commission embark on public education against indiscipline. He said one Mr Seth Agyei Baah, popularly known as Shaaba agreed to sponsor the program. According to Obeng-Forson, after an initial durbar at Nkawkaw, the commission approached Shaaba again to assist them organise other durbars in some communities in the Kwahu South District but he (Shaaba) told them he could only assist them in the communities within the Nkawkaw constituency.
He admitted that at all meetings with the people, they mentioned Shaaba’s name as the one who sponsored the program and asked the people to thank him. He said they did so without any political consideration but wanted others to emulate him and assist the commission and that whoever sponsored them would be accorded similar treat. The Eastern Regional Director of the commission, Mr Quaye Sowah, on his part stated categorically that the NCCE is an independent body and would not allow any political party or an individual to use it to play political game. He warned, “any member of staff found would not be spared.”
When contacted, the Kwahu South District Chief Executive, Mr Raymond Osafo Djan said he had received similar complaint about the activities of some staff of the commission in the district and subsequently had a word with them. He stated that the commissions activities was basically run by the central government so they should always channel their problems thorough the district assembly for redress to avoid such allegations and suspicions.
