NCCE calls for support ahead of referendum

Stakeholders at a capacity building workshop on the implementation of the Constitution Review Commission’s report have appealed to the Government to adequately resource the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

This, they said would enable the Commission to be able to effectively prepare the minds of the citizenry for the upcoming referendum on the review of the constitution.

The Constitutional Review Commission was set up set up in January 2010 by the late President John Evans Atta Mills to consult with Ghanaians on the operations of the 1992 Constitution and on any changes that needed to be made in it.

It was also to present a draft bill for the amendment of the Constitution in the event that any changes are warranted.

On Friday June 15, 2012 the Government issued a white paper approving most of the Commission’s recommendations, which have to go through a national referendum before the changes in the Constitution could be made.

According to the participants, failure of successive governments to address the logistical challenges of the NCCE has crippled its activities, and narrowed the mandate of the Commission to times of general election.

The participants, majority of whom were NCCE officials, noted that the review of the Constitution is critical to sustaining the democracy of the country.

They said the NCCE must be resourced enough to carry on with its constitutional mandate of providing civic education to the citizenry.

The two-day workshop which sought to enhance civic engagement through an institutionalised stakeholder’s capacity building was attended by representatives from the informal sector, religious groups, the media and the NCCE.

It was organised by Law and Development Associates (LADA), a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with the NCCE and funded by Open Society Initiative for West Africa.

The participants were exposed to the basic framework of the constitution and familiarised themselves with the underlying principles, which were fundamental to the democracy of the country as well as the Constitution Review Process and its amendment.

Citing the low voter turnout in this year’s District Level Elections as an example, the participants feared that a similar situation could be witnessed, if the NCCE is not able to make Ghanaians understand the need to participate in the national referendum.

Addressing the participants during the workshop, Mr Harold Atuguba of LADA, explained that “constitutionally, 40 per cent of registered voters must turn out to vote in the referendum and 75 per cent of that percentage must vote ‘yes’ before it could be accepted.

“So if it turns out that those who will come out to vote is less than the 40 per cent, then we will have to start the process all over again,” he stated.

Mr Atuguba said considering the huge cost involved, there is the need to use all avenues available to increase education and create public awareness to ensure that the constitutional requirements are met at the referendum.

He therefore called on the media, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to support the NCCE in educating the public on the issue.