BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE IN PEACE BUILDING- JAMAN SOUTH NCCE SENSITIZES PUPILS TO BE DISCIPLINED’’.

The Jaman South Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) visited some selected basic schools within the Municipality with sensitization programmes as part of activities marking this year’s Annual Citizenship Week celebration with a call on the pupils to be disciplined. Thirty-one basic schools were visited within the municipality with the civic messages.

The annual Citizenship Week Celebration is meant to remind pupils of the basic level of their responsibilities as agents of change and future leaders who can help build a peaceful, vibrant, and united democratic Ghana.

The theme for this year’s weeklong celebration was "30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy: Building National Cohesion through Civic Education and Participation in Local Governance" and a sub-theme of ‘30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy and Building National Cohesion: The Role of the Ghanaian Child”. The chosen theme is a call to reinforce civic values in children to reorient their attitude toward playing positive roles in our democratic journey.

The weeklong celebration also creates a platform for important personalities who are considered worthy as role models in our society to interact and impact virtues of good citizenship to the pupils.

Addressing the pupils at one of the programmes held at Jenjemireja Circuit which consists of Jenjemireja Presby JHS & Primary, Jenjemireja M/A JHS, Asuogya M/A JHS & Primary, and Jnjemireja R/C JHS & Primary on 30/5/2023, the Municipal Director, Mr. Emmanuel Oduro briefed the pupils about the rationale behind the celebration of the Citizenship Week every year. He said the citizenship week celebration focuses on the basic schools and is meant to inculcate in the pupils the values of a good citizen and also to remind them of their responsibilities and the roles they can play to build a prosperous democratic Ghana.

Mr. Emmanuel again reiterated that the theme for the 2023 citizenship week was premised on the broad theme of the Commission for the year and that is ‘30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy and Building National Cohesion: The Role of the Ghanaian Child”. According to him, as the Commission celebrates 30 years of consolidating our democratic gains and building national unity, it is important to reinforce civic values in children to reorient their attitude toward playing positive roles in our democratic journey. Children are a spring of life and an extraordinary blessing to any nation. They are future leaders and change agents in peacebuilding hence, the NCCE’s strategy and slogan of “catch them young.

He went on to tell them that the Commission engages persons in leadership positions to interact and impact in them the virtues of good citizenship to become responsible adults in the future. He then introduced the resource person to the pupils and urged them to pay attention to the Resource Person as he takes them through the theme for the celebration.

The resource person in the personality of Mr. Emmanuel Korang-Tabire (Headmaster Jenjemerija Presby JHS) took the floor and started educating the pupils on the theme. He began by asking the pupils their understanding of the theme for the celebration. According to him, the theme is calling on them to be united and to put Ghana first in everything they do. He said the country can only progress if we accept that we are one irrespective of who we are, where we are from, the language we speak, and the faith we believe in as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution and therefore must be respected then the country can progress.

He again reiterated that the ability of Ghana to sustain its democratic gains depends on a disciplined citizenry exhibiting values of good governance such as promoting the prestige and good name of Ghana; respect for other's opinions and living in harmony with others. These values, enshrined in the Constitution, are meant to ensure that we progress together as people.

He went on to inform them that, Ghana is rich in culture and national and patriotic songs. He asked them what patriotism is, and asked them to mention some of the patriotic songs and symbols. He told them that these songs carry inspirational words which charge the youth of Ghana to stand up for Ghana. He asked them to sing one of the songs with him, ‘’MA OMAN HO NHIA WO’’

The resource person went ahead to educate them on some of the duties of a citizen as enshrined in Article 41 (a-j) of the 192 Constitution.

To promote the prestige and good name of Ghana and respect the national symbols
To uphold and defend the Constitution and the law
Foster national unity and live in harmony with others
Protect and safeguard the environment
Respect the right of others
Take part in clean-up exercises either in school or in their communities
Abstain from drugs and alcohol
Protect public property

All these points were explained to their understanding by the resource person.

In conclusion, the Municipal Director made them to be aware that the nation belongs to them and that they are the makers of tomorrow. He admonished them that what they will do today will reflect in their tomorrow so they should be disciplined in all facets of life.

He then asked them to say the salutation below;
Long live the young generation!
Long live the 1992 Constitution! Long live Ghana!

The programme highly participated with meaningful contributions from the pupils and teachers. The sensitizations were resourced by; Mr. Emmanuel Oduro (Municipal Director, Vincent Missah (CEO), Hannah Frema Boampong (CFO), Matthew Dzoboku (ACEO), and Emmanuel Dieni (NSP) all of NCCE as well as Mr. Emmanuel Korang – Tabire (headmaster JJMJ), Mr. Asamoah Daniel (Headmaster Zezera) and Madam Paulina Agyeiwaa (Girl-Child Coordinator, Miremano)

Source: Jamansouth Ncce Facebook.