President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday called on the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to step its educational programmes to help foster national cohesion.

He said the role of the NCCE had become critical, especially at a time that the nation is experiencing deep partisan politics and for the fact that the general election is due next year.

President Mahama made the call when he swore-in two deputies of NCCE at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.

The commission members are Mr Samuel Akuamoah, a senior staff of the commission with several years of experience on the job, and Ms Josephine Nkrumah, a legal practitioner with 25 years of working experience.

Their appointment follows the passing away and retirement of past commissioners.

President Mahama noted that the role of the NCCE is also critical in view of the district level elections.

He announced that government in collaboration with the Council of State would come out with a programme to address the waning sense of nationalism and patriotism.

President Mahama said the wealth of experience of the two commissioners would boost the image of the Commission and called for support for them to succeed.

Ms Charlotte Osei, Commissioner of the NCCE expressed the need for the commission to be resourced adequately to enable it to discharge its constitutionally-mandated duties.

“Our mandate is huge but our resources are not as significant as the mandate,” she stated.

Ms Osei indicated that the appointment of the two would have a significant impact on the commission’s work.

The appointees took the oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance, administered by President Mahama.