NCCE engages Bethany Methodist basic school on Ghana’s democracy

The Ayawaso West Municipal Office of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) met with the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of Bethany Methodist Basic School, Dzorwulu as part of the activities outlined to commemorate the birth of the 1992 Constitution. The Municipal Office also engaged the group on the need for Ghanaians to uphold the nation’s values as a means to perpetuate the Fourth Republic and our democracy for that matter.

The theme of the event was “Sustaining Our Democracy, Ghanaian Values in Practice: The Role of the Child”. The programme provided the opportunity for Mr. Edem Afeeva and Mrs Doris Mpere-Gyekye, the Ayawaso West Director of NCCE and Headmistress of Bethany Methodist Basic School, Dzorwulu respectively to drum home the need to inculcate among pupils Ghanaian values.

Mr. Edem Afeeva, called on the participants to embrace nationalism, patriotism, hard work and uphold our traditional values. Mr. Afeeva reminded the participants that, our forebears who led the nation to independence were united despite the differences in their ethnic, tribal and religious backgrounds. Mr. Afeeva further mentioned that the current generation of Ghanaians need to be more conscious of the fact that foreign cultures which are now taking the place of the nation’s values should not be the way forward. He mentioned for instance, that communal spirit which provided social support networks for families, communities and larger societies in the yesteryears should not give way to individualism which has the tendency of dwindling the hopes of the underprivileged in society.

Mrs. Doris Mpere-Gyekye, headmistress of the school advised the parents to always let their children understand the reasons why they advise them against certain practices. She stressed that issues such as bad environmental practices would be minimised among children if parents or adults demonstrate their commitment by consistently disposing off waste materials properly and segregating liquid from solid wastes.

Mr. Dominic Sarpong, a Senior Civic Education Officer (SCEO)¸ NCCE, educated participants on the Independence of the Commission and its role in civic education delivery across the country.

Some of the participants underscored the importance of technological devices in helping school children, especially the youth, to access information across the globe but were quick to add that parents ought to monitor the use of the devices since most of the unhealthy foreign cultures are learned via the internet.