LET’S PROMOTE PATRIOTIC VALUES FOR NATIONAL GROWTH

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has advised students of the Golden Age International School at Abelemkpe in the Greater Accra Region to be good stewards and safeguard the 1992 Constitution as the fundamental law of the land. Mrs. Mary Adah, a Senior Officer, at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and a member of the Steering Committee of Ghana’s Citizen’s Movement against Corruption gave the advice when she engaged the students during a Citizenship Week Celebration organized by the NCCE. The theme for this year’s celebration is “30 Years of Consolidated Constitutional Democracy and Building National Cohesion: The Role of the Ghanaian Child”.

Mrs. Adah urged the students to learn more about Ghanaian values. She mentioned respect, loyalty, hard work, tolerance, patriotism, honesty, and responsibility. She counselled the students to contribute to nation-building and guard against the perception that the grass is greener outside Ghana. “No matter the country you reside in, it is your hard work and perseverance that distinguishes you”, she emphasized.

Mrs. Adah made the students aware that corruption is not only a national-level menace but can be observed among young citizens. She mentioned the stealing of meat from cooking pots at home. This according to her reduces the portion of meat to be served to the rest of the family. Discussing the issue of accountability, she agreed with the students that any suspicious activity within the community must be reported to the Police, even if those involved are family members.

Mrs. Adah mentioned that rights go with responsibilities and that greeting is an important virtue in the Ghanaian culture and must be adhered to as a sign of respect.

She later directed the students to keep their environment clean and maintain good hygiene to avoid body odour. “Be mindful of the armpit section of your shirts, where there’s sweat”, she added. She then presented five (5) copies of the 1992 Constitution to the School. Students who answered questions from the interactions were presented with NCCE-branded wristbands.

The Headteacher of Golden Age School, Mrs. Theresa Okantey, and the Patron of the Civic Education Club (CEC) in the school, Mr. George Amoah-Addo were grateful to the NCCE team for the engagement. They also thanked the Commission for the copies of the 1992 Constitution and the branded wristbands.