Politics

Consolidate fledgling democracy – Citizenry implored

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has entreated the citizenry to work hard to consolidate the nation’s fledgling democracy.

It noted that after three decades of democratic rule under the 1992 Constitution, there was the need for citizens to protect the democratic gains to enable them to revisit the agenda for constitutional reforms.

“Democracy grows when people identify shortfalls in its practice and take appropriate remedial measures to set issues in right perspective towards progress, growth and development of democratic dispensation,” the Commission said.

Samuel Asare Akuamoah, the Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, NCCE, made this known and revealed that the Commission would roll out series of activities nationwide to mark 30 years of uninterrupted constitutional rule.

He explained that the success of constitutional rule was classified as fundamental accomplishment of all Ghanaians and the Commission, judging from the chequered democratic history of the country, set out to protect the Fourth Republic with setting up of the Annual Constitution Week Celebration.

“The week was instituted in 2001 to commemorate our return to constitutional democratic rule, significantly on April 28, 1992, when the electorate voted in a referendum to adopt the draft Fourth Republican Constitution, which subsequently came into force on January 7, 1993.

“Since its inception, April 28 to May 4, has been observed as the Annual Constitution Week and this year marks 30 years of uninterrupted constitutional rule in the Fourth Republic, although it is relatively young when compared to developed democracies.

 “The Constitution is a living document and must be nurtured to grow and nurturing of a living constitution is vital for sustenance of our fledgling democracy and promotion of sustainable socio-economic development,” Mr Akuamoah contended.

According to him, in the course of operating the 1992 Constitution for the past 30 years, various segments of society had called for thorough review of the document and acknowledged demurs over the past 30 years were relevant to effective and efficient functioning of the Constitution.

Mr Akuamoah indicated that they were related to reapportionment of power, political authority, revitalisation of various institutions of state with requisite architecture and resources to make them work to make the Constitution a truly living document. -GNA

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