Bechem (B/A) May 21, GNA - Madam Cynthia Anima Boadu, Tano South District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), on Thursday appealed to Ghanaians to unite and focus on how best to nurture and consolidate the country's fledging democracy. She observed that the success of Ghana's democracy rested on the shoulders of every citizen. Madam Boadu made the appeal at a workshop to mark the 11th annual constitution week celebration at Bechem, the Tano South district capital. The workshop was on the theme' "the state of Ghana's democracy". She emphasized the importance for the citizenry to participate effectively in critically examining the prospects and deficits in Ghana's democratic development since 1992. This, Madam Boadu said, would go a long way to help find a lasting solution to the shortfalls in the democratic processes and promote good governance and socio-economic development of the country. She noted that even though Ghana had made remarkable strides for the past 19 years in its democratic system of governance, there was the need to remind the citizenry that on April 28, 1992 they voted in a referendum to adopt the 1992 constitution, "which is the tap-root of our democracy". "We are still in the process of consolidating our democracy and this is why this year's celebration intends to take stock of the 19 years of uninterrupted democratic practice to enable us to access the challenges and successes of our democratic practice", Madam Boadu stated.

Mr. Zakaria Anaba, District Chief Executive, said since 1992 Ghana had enjoyed uninterrupted democratic system of governance and had moved increasingly towards consolidating and strengthening liberal democratic principles, structures and processes. "Its progress in this historic development has been commendable and remarkable globally even though there is more room for improvement", he indicated. Mr. Anaba observed that since democracy involved politics and governance and was also the basic foundation for the promotion of human development and the alleviation of poverty, there was the need for each and everyone to tolerate and respect each other's views in the processes. He noted that even though it was generally accepted that Ghana had done a lot in terms of the consolidation of democracy, there still existed gaps to work on seriously with sincerity. These gaps, Mr. Anaba said, include apathy and low level of interest in the democratic processes, low level of citizen's participation especially in governance at the local level, lack of accountability on the part of public office holders and lack of patriotism.

Other areas include high degree of politics of insults and malice creating divisions among the citizenry, high level of executive dominance at all levels of government, slow decentralization and low participation of women in governance, the District Chief Executive added. Mr. Michael Amponsah, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of NCCE, advised stakeholders in the local governance system to endeavour to acquaint themselves adequately with chapter 20 of the constitution and Act 462 (the local government Act, 1993) for effective implementation of the decentralization process.

Speaking on the topic: "the state of democracy in Ghana: decentralization in Ghana", he called for intensive and systematic civic education on the decentralization process.