Citizens urged to adhere to political parties' constitutions

Accra, June 12, GNA - The Adentan Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Madam Azumah Zainabu Braimah, has urged citizens to adhere to their political parties' constitutions and manifestoes to ensure political tolerance and effective democratic governance.

She noted that since political parties' constitutions are blue prints to guide their existence and growth, there was the need for party leaders to educate their followers to respect the dictates of their constitutions to ensure sanity in the political landscape.

The Municipal Director said these at a durbar to climax activities of the celebration of the 11th National Constitution Week at Adentan at the week-end. Participants discussed issues such as Ghana's judicial system, political parties and the media.

The durbar was attended by a cross-section of people made up of co-operative groups, dress makers, representatives from the various political parties, the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Farmer associations, hairdressers associations, members of Garages Association and departmental heads.

Madam Azumah Braimah also called on political parties to educate their members about their manifestos so that they could be abreast on what was expected of them and not to indulge in practices that would be detrimental to the democratic rights of the citizens, adding 93Ignorance by followers of political parties has been the cause of the political intolerance in the country."

Mr Daniel Yeboah Hienno, a Director at the Ghana Education Service, spoke on the three arms of Government and stressed on the independence of the Judiciary and the works of the court system, which she indicated is insulated from the Executive or the Legislature influence.

He noted that media freedom had been enshrined in the constitution to protect sources of news and news gathering and therefore urged the people to make use of the media constructively, but cautioned that freedom of expression should not be abused.

Mr Yeboah advised the public to desist from using inflammatory language and insults against each other in the name of freedom of expression and used the right channels to put across their grievances.

Mr John Nunya, Deputy Municipal Director of Agriculture, who chaired the durbar, urged all to protect the country's democratic achievements and appealed for tolerance by followers of the various political parties to ensure socio-economic development of the country.

The participants discussed the relevance of political parties in the country's democratic governance and held various views on selection of political leaders, enhancement of national unity with people from all ethnic groups in the country to ensure a cohesive democratic society.

Messages and lectures on the Constitutional Week were read to over 28 Churches and Mosques as well as to various identifiable groups in the Municipality. The Week was under the theme: 93The state of Ghana's Democracy 2011."

Nii Obaayoo, Chief of Adjiriganor, who graced the occasion, called on the Municipal Assembly to collaborate with the traditional authorities to ensure the growth and development of the Adentan Municipality.