Accra: Officials of the Tema Office of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) have paid a working visit to Ms. Ebi Bright, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), to build partnership in the discharge of their respective duties. Ms. Gifty Agyeiwaa Badu, the Tema Metro NCCE Director, said the visit forms part of a nationwide drive by the commission to discuss potential collaborations and explore ways to enhance civic engagement in the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, the objective of these relationship-building visits is also to expand the commission's network, broaden and enhance better working relationships with major stakeholders, and also solicit stakeholder support for the NCCE's work, especially at the grassroots level. Ms. Badu provided a brief on the NCCE, explaining that the commission is an independent constitutional body established under Articles 231 to 239 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, as well as by an Act of Parliament, Act 452, 1993.
She detailed the NCCE's mandate to promote and sustain democracy, civic awareness, and nation-building through civic education. This is achieved through the commission's flagship programmes, including Annual Constitution and Citizenship Week Celebrations, Project Citizen Showcase, Civic Education Club activities, dialogue series, and democracy lectures. She recounted previous collaborations with the TMA, such as tax education programmes to encourage residents to honor their bills, SIM card registration sensitization, and voter registration.
Ms. Badu further noted that even though the NCCE carries out quarterly activities at the national, regional, and district levels, the office also engages in internal district programmes requiring their attention and educational efforts. She commended the TMA for its continuous support, mentioning activities such as the constitutional quiz for security agencies in the metro and the sensitization of schoolchildren.
A civic education quiz is planned for some selected schools within the metropolis in September to test the knowledge of civic club members on national issues like illegal mining. Ms. Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, commended the NCCE for their civic work and expressed that the TMA could collaborate with the commission to educate people on the importance, international nature, and concept of the Sakumo Ramsar site.
Ms. Bright raised concerns about development attempts in the Ramsar area despite prosecutions, suggesting that proper education is necessary in these situations. She requested the quarterly guide of the NCCE to keep the assembly updated on their activities and how best to support them. Ms. Bright promised that her team was working on providing suitable accommodation for the NCCE and stated that issues like disability access and gender concerns could benefit from the commission's involvement.
She emphasized the lack of disability access at the main TMA office, describing it as a statement of misdirection and urging immediate engagement on such matters. The Tema Metropolitan CEO also appealed to the NCCE to educate residents on sanitation issues, development control challenges, and the payment of property rates and other bills.
