Ashanti Regional NCCE Marks 2026 Citizenship Week with Digital Citizenship Education in Basic Schools

The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has successfully commemorated the 2026 Citizenship Week Celebration by engaging pupils and teachers in selected basic schools across the region on responsible digital citizenship, constitutional values, and civic responsibility.

The outreach program formed part of the Commission's nationwide Citizenship Week Celebration under the theme, "Upholding Our Constitution in the Digital Age: Our Collective Responsibility," with the sub-theme, "Growing Up Digital: The Ghanaian Child Upholding the Constitution Online."

The Regional team, led by the Deputy Regional Director, Madam Akua Zakaria, together with Miss Nana Konadu Agyemang and Mr. Richard Osei, visited several Junior High Schools, including Asawase Methodist JHS, Asawase M/A JHS, Asawase Anglican JHS, St. Cyprine JHS (Ashanti New Town), St. Cyprine JHS (Asem), and Asem Mixed JHS. The team interacted with pupils and teachers on constitutional governance, responsible citizenship, digital responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

Addressing the students, NCCE officials emphasized that the 1992 Constitution remains the supreme law of Ghana and that the rights and responsibilities it guarantees apply equally in both physical and digital spaces. They encouraged pupils to become responsible digital citizens by thinking critically before sharing information online, respecting the rights of others on social media, safeguarding their personal information, rejecting misinformation, and avoiding cyberbullying and other harmful online practices.

The officers explained that while digital technology provides significant opportunities for education, communication, and innovation, it also presents risks such as online scams, misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy violations. Pupils were therefore urged to use digital platforms responsibly and to uphold the values of truth, respect, tolerance, accountability, and integrity in all their online engagements.

The educational sessions also broadened discussions beyond digital citizenship to include Ghana's democratic governance system, the responsibilities of citizens in protecting constitutional democracy, and the importance of environmental governance as a shared civic duty. Through interactive discussions, pupils were encouraged to appreciate their role in protecting the environment and contributing meaningfully to national development.

Speaking during the engagements, the NCCE team stressed that instilling constitutional values in children is fundamental to sustaining Ghana's democratic future. They noted that young people must not only understand their constitutional rights but also embrace their civic responsibilities and demonstrate responsible conduct both offline and online.

The interactive sessions gave pupils the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences regarding the use of digital technologies. Teachers who participated in the program commended the initiative, describing it as timely and relevant, particularly at a time when children are increasingly exposed to both the opportunities and challenges of the digital world.

Citizenship Week is the National Commission for Civic Education's flagship annual program, implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service to promote civic consciousness, patriotism, and constitutional values among schoolchildren. The 2026 celebration reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to nurturing informed, responsible, and active young citizens who will uphold Ghana's Constitution and contribute to building a peaceful, democratic, and digitally responsible society.