The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has appealed to Ghanaians to uphold the spirit of tolerance, national unity, peace, cohesion and patriotism going into this year’s general elections.

In a statement issued to mark this year’s Constitution Day, the Commission said all well-meaning Ghanaians owe it as a duty to live up to “our rights and responsibilities as citizens; and strengthen our resolve to protect our national stability for posterity”.

It is the second time the Day is being observed in Ghana.

The Constitution Day was instituted to mark the sustenance of the Fourth Republic, which hits its 28th milestone this year.

It has witnessed seven successive general elections and transfer of power from at least three democratically elected governments to the other.

But the Commission is worried some politicians are taking advantage of the youth to topple the peace enjoyed over the past period.

“We urge the youth, particularly political party activists, not to be misguided by some politicians and be used as vigilantes and instruments of violence,” the statement signed by Mrs Joyce Afutu, the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at NCCE, said.

“Rather, the youth should eschew acts of violence before, during and after the upcoming elections as their contribution to peaceful elections and nation-building.”

It entreated all and sundry to guard against “the occurrence of any form of violence to avoid the sort of untold hardships that some African countries suffered when they experienced violent conflicts”.