Accra, April 23, GNA - The Apintohene of Wassa West Traditional Area of the Western Region, Nana Kwabena Angu II, on Saturday commended the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for institutionalising the National Constitution Week. He said the dedication of national week of activism aimed at creating an enabling environment for Ghanaians to participate in discussions, debates, theatre performances and other activities on the Constitution to ensure that it becomes a living document embodied on the mind and heart for the attainment of democracy and good governance, is highly commendable.

Nana Angu, therefore appealed to Ghanaians, especially governance institutions, civil society organisations, churches, public and private sector players and the youth to embrace and participate in the Constitution Week celebration.

He said such a broad based participation would create the necessary civic awareness to strengthen the nation's democratic institutions to enhance peace, stability and development, Nana Angu told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. Nana Angu, who is the Chief of Awuduah stressed the need for all Ghanaians to be conversant with the constitution and charged the public to show more interest in the activities of NCCE to make its establishment worthwhile.

The Apintohene, however, expressed concern about what he described as the culture of non-compliance, stressing, "it is the root of several problems that currently have plagued the nation", which have limited national developmental prospects.

"This has manifested itself in all a reas, and as such Nananom are saddened to have to witness the degree of non-compliance that takes place every single day, before our eyes."

He said the peculiarity of this culture of non-compliance in the country cuts across the entire spectrum of political, social, religious, traditional and cultural affairs.

He cited the case of the youth taking the law into their own hands to destroy state property or political parties engaging political thugs to harass and intimidate opponents.

Nana Angu therefore, urged the NCCE to intensify its civic education programme to raise the patriotic spirit of Ghanaians. The National Constitution Week was instituted in 2001 to enable Ghanaians to participate in discussions, debates, theatre performances and other activities on the constitution to make it "a living document embodied on the mind and heart for the attainment of democracy and good governance."

According to NCCE the institutionalisation was as a result of an urgent demand for knowledge and information on the constitution to accelerate the growth and sustenance of democracy and constitutionalism in the country.

The Fifth Constitutional Week celebration, scheduled for April 28 to May 4, on the general theme: "Reducing Poverty Through Citizens' Participation in Local Government," was dedicated to broadening the principles of participatory democracy.

It is aimed at contributing to a more open, inclusive and transparent society and will strengthen democratic institutions and the culture of democracy, provide an environment under which poverty could be reduced rapidly. 23 April 05