Upper East NCCE Educates Students on Responsible Digital Citizenship During Citizenship Week

The Upper East Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged students and teachers of Sacred Heart JHS as part of activities marking the 2026 Citizenship Week Celebration.

The programme, held on 1st June 2026, brought together over 200 students, teachers, and school authorities to discuss responsible digital citizenship under the sub-theme "Growing Up Digital: The Ghanaian Child Upholding the Constitution Online".

Addressing participants, Madam Bridget Akpanaba explained that Citizenship Week serves as a practical platform for nurturing civic consciousness among children and equipping them with the knowledge and values needed to become responsible citizens. She noted that while digital technologies provide enormous opportunities for learning and communication, they also expose young people to risks such as misinformation, cyberbullying, online scams, inappropriate content, and privacy breaches.

Madam Akpanaba urged students to exercise caution and responsibility when using digital platforms, stressing that the constitutional right to freedom of expression must be exercised within the bounds of respect, responsibility, and the law.

The Deputy Regional Director of NCCE, Mr Akugri Augustine, encouraged students to embrace Ghanaian values and uphold constitutional principles both online and offline. He advised them to critically assess information before sharing it and to consider whether their online actions are truthful, respectful, and harmless to others.

Mr Augustine further cautioned students against sharing sensitive personal images online, warning of the risks of exploitation, blackmail, and cyber harassment. He highlighted the role of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) in protecting citizens, particularly children, from online threats.

He also discouraged participation in gambling and harmful online activities, urging students to use the internet for education, innovation, creativity, and personal development. He reminded them that digital footprints are permanent and may influence future opportunities, including employment and travel.

The engagement forms part of NCCE’s nationwide efforts to promote responsible digital citizenship and empower young people to uphold constitutional values in the digital age.