Regional News of Friday, 6 February 2015

Source: GNA

NCCE holds forum on rights and responsibilities of citizens

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), have been advised to play their constitutional roles effectively to sustain the District Assembly Concept.

Mr. Michael Amponsah, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), gave the advice at a day’s stakeholders’ forum, organised by the Nkoranza Municipal Directorate of the NCCE at Nkoranza.

He said the District Assembly Concept required proper functioning of its subsidiary components, like the Unit Committees, as well as the Area, Town and Urban Councils, before it could work effectively.

The programme whose participants were mainly aspiring female assembly members for the Nkoranza South Municipality, and selected physically-challenged persons from the area, was to educate them on their civic rights and responsibilities as Ghanaians.

Mr. Amponsah expressed appreciation to the European Union (EU) for supporting NCCE's educational programmes in the Region, to enhance awareness creation of the democratic and electoral processes.

Mr. Ekow Essien, Nkoranza Municipal Electoral Officer, announced that out of the 72 candidates who had submitted their nominations to contest as assembly members for the 29 electoral areas, only two are women.

Mr. Essien reiterated that the National Voters’ Identification (ID) Card and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Card were now recognized as valid documents for every Ghanaian, and therefore urged the citizenry to register for the two vital cards, to cover themselves as citizens of the country.

Mr. Ishak Dakura, Nkoranza Municipal Director of the NCCE, commended two local Radio Stations at Nkoranza, Jerryson and Akyeaa FM, for collaborating with the NCCE to use their stations to educate the communities on issues relating to the holistic development of the Municipality, and the nation in general.

Nana Emelia Fosu Rachel, Headmistress of the Nkoranza Senior High Technical School, who presided urged, women in the Municipality to show practical interest in politics and other activities that would demand women’s input for the development of the area.

“After all women can equally do what men can do and even do it better,” Nana Rachel pointed out.