Constitutional Week Celebrations Launched NCCE –Upper East Region

The concept of accountability obliges the individual and organizations to account for their stewardship and accept responsibility for them. 

It also includes the disclosure of monetary dealings and other entrusted property. However, peoples laid-back attitude towards accountability leading to inadequate transparency are militating against efforts aimed at tackling corruption in Ghana. 

This was disclosed by the Regional Director of NCCE, Mr. Pontius Pilate Apaabey at the launch of this year’s constitutional week celebration. 

The 2018 Constitutional Week Celebration has been launched by the National Commission for Civic Education NCCE, in the Upper East Region. 

It was under the theme, “Our Nation, Our Heritage: Consolidating Ghana’s Democratic Gains”. The ceremony was organized in Bolgatanga and the Kasena Nankana Municipalities in the region. 

It was sponsored by the European Union and launched under the National Anti-Corruption Action   Plan, NACAP, and Accountability, “Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme ARAP”. 

This year’s constitutional week celebration brought together security agencies including the Ghana National Fire Service, Immigration Service, Custom Division, and the Police Service. 

The main agenda was on how to minimize corruption as social canker within the security agencies in the country. 

Speaking to Ghana today on the theme, the Regional Director of NCCE, Mr. Pontius Pilate Apaabey Baba said,corruption thrives in an environment where accountability, transparency, citizens’ vigilance and participation were virtually absent. 

He stressed that the presence of these principles could lead to the promotion of discipline and ensure that state and organizational assets and finances are protected. He called on workers at their various workplaces to be knowledgeable in order to detect and report shady deals to the appropriate authorities for sanctions to be taken. 

This is because corruption is a societal problem and requires all to help fight and eliminate or minimize it. 

Mr. Apaabey indicated that this year, marks twenty-five 25 years of uninterrupted constitutional rule in the 4th Republic and also twenty-five 25 years of the existence of the NCCE. 

Adding that the Constitutional Week Celebration was instituted to commemorate the country’s return to constitutional democratic practice, which process started with a referendum where the Ghanaian electorate voted massively to adopt the Fourth Republican Constitution on April 28, 1992. Ghanaians must therefore work hard to consolidate the fledgling democracy towards the common good.

He also mentioned, lack of resources for anti-corruption agencies, political will and lack of confidence in the institutions as challenges militating against   the fight of corruption. 

Mr. Apaabey appealed to the government to adequately resource the institutions to fight the canker.  Stoey by: GBC Reporter Emmanuel Akayeti .