In recent years, there has been a growing concern from leading civil society leaders and members, academics, and good governance advocates about the persistent underfunding of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
While government ministries such as the Ministry of Information and Communications receive substantial financial allocations, the National Commission for Civic Education continues to struggle with insufficient resources.
This deliberate financial neglect in the view of many good governance advocates undermines the institution’s mandate to educate citizens on their civil rights and responsibilities.
The apparent disparity also raises serious questions about the priorities of successive governments and their commitment to fostering an informed and empowered citizenry.
Professor Adu Gyamfi, a Political Historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in a scathing critique, accused successive governments of intentionally under-resourced the NCCE to avoid accountability from an informed citizenry.
“The government and politicians are not interested in the NCCE because they prefer citizens to remain uninformed about their civic rights and responsibilities. An educated populace would demand accountability and challenge political control. Therefore, investing in the NCCE does not benefit politicians”.
Professor Samuel Adu Gyamfi, a Political Historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Financial and Logistical Deprivation
He pointed out that for years, politicians have deprived the National Commission for Civic Education of essential financial and logistical support, severely hindering its officers from effectively performing their duties.
Professor Gyamfi added that district and national NCCE officers have persistently complained about logistical constraints that obstruct their work.
The renowned political historian recounted that a 2015 study he conducted on the National Commission for Civic Education’s operations revealed that staff nationwide were struggling with resource and logistical constraints.
The study, he noted, also revealed that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) is more well-known than the NCCE Chairperson due to the higher publicity of the EC’s activities compared to those of the NCCE.
This disparity in visibility and recognition Professor Adu Gyamfi emphasized is symptomatic of a larger issue, asserting that despite the NCCE’s efforts to educate citizens about their rights and civic responsibilities, many people remain unaware of its activities due to insufficient resources for public engagement.
“When citizens are empowered, they will hold politicians accountable. They will understand their constitutional rights and the obligations of state actors. Politicians find it easier to exploit a less informed populace”.
Professor Samuel Adu Gyamfi, a Political Historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),
This statement he affirmed underscores the critical role of the National Commission for Civic Education in fostering an informed citizenry, highlighting the deliberate actions of politicians to undermine such a process.
In a nutshell, the deliberate underfunding of the National Commission for Civic Education as earlier intimated by Professor Adu Gyamfi is not just a financial issue but it is a strategic maneuver by political leaders to maintain political control and avoid accountability.
The logistical and resource constraints facing the National Commission for Civic Education continue to be significant challenges that prevent it from fulfilling its constitutional duties, such as educating citizens on their civil rights and responsibilities and promoting democratic values effectively.
To address this issue, there is a critical need for reforms and improved financial allocation to the National Commission for Civic Education by the government.
Ensuring that the NCCE is adequately resourced is not just a matter of fulfilling a constitutional mandate; it is essential for the health of the country’s democracy as an informed and empowered citizenry is the backbone of any democratic society.
It is only through the provision of adequate financial support that can help NCCE fulfill its constitutional mandate and empower citizens to hold political leaders accountable.
This is without doubt a critical step toward building a more informed, engaged, and democratic society.
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