NCCE Chairperson Urges Students to Uphold Integrity and Civic Responsibility in Leadership

As part of efforts to promote civic engagement and strengthen democratic values among Ghanaian youth, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Madam Kathleen Addy, has called on student leaders to demonstrate integrity, humility, and civic consciousness in leadership.

She made this call at the Grand Convocation of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) National Youth Festival, held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Auditorium.

The event brought together dignitaries, including the Hon. Haruna Iddrisu (Minister for Education), Hon. Yaw Osei Adutwum (former Minister for Education), Dr Saajida Shiraz (Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund), among others.

Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Student Unions as a Platform for Democratic Governance and Civic Responsibility,” Madam Addy emphasized that democracy is not only about elections, but a way of life reflected in how citizens engage, respect opinions, and take responsibility for their communities.

She noted that schools are the practice grounds for democracy, cautioning against the growing trend of vote buying and corruption in student elections. “What we practice on our campuses today becomes the politics we live with tomorrow,” she said.

Madam Addy urged student leaders to rebuild trust and uphold the true spirit of service, stating that integrity is the foundation of leadership and trust is the currency of governance. She also called for reforms to strengthen student unions through leadership training, accountability, inclusivity, and technology-driven civic engagement.

Reaffirming the NCCE’s commitment to youth participation, she stated that “the future of Ghana’s democracy depends on the quality of civic education and the depth of youth participation.”

In her closing remarks, the Chairperson charged students to “run elections with honesty, serve with humility, govern with transparency, and lead with love for your people.”

Follow us on our social media pages for more stories and posts from the NCCE.

Instagram