Professor Adu Gyamfi, a Political Historian at KNUST, has made a startling assertion that successive governments have deliberately under-resourced the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to avoid accountability from an informed citizenry.
According to Professor Gyamfi, politicians have systematically deprived the NCCE of essential financial and logistical support, hindering its officers from effectively performing their duties.
This assertion comes on the heels of persistent complaints from district and national NCCE officers about logistical constraints that continue to obstruct their work.
In a 2015 study on the NCCE’s operations, Professor Gyamfi found that staff nationwide were struggling with resource and logistical constraints, which hindered their ability to effectively educate citizens about their rights and civic responsibilities.
The study also revealed that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) is more well-known than the NCCE Chairperson, due to the higher publicity of the EC’s activities compared to those of the NCCE.
Professor Gyamfi stated that although the NCCE has been educating citizens about their rights and civic responsibilities, many people remain unaware of its activities due to insufficient resources for public engagement.
He remarked that the government and politicians are not interested in the NCCE because they prefer citizens to remain uninformed about their civic rights and responsibilities, adding that an educated populace would demand accountability and challenge political control.
The lack of resources and logistical constraints continue to be significant challenges that prevent the NCCE from fulfilling its constitutional duties effectively, with officers in the Asokore Mampong District Office facing difficulties in their work, particularly as general elections approach.
Despite these challenges, NCCE officers in Asokore Mampong are striving to fulfill their duties, with Director Mathew Agbenu noting that officers sometimes have to walk to communities to conduct public education due to the lack of an official vehicle.
With the general elections approaching, the role of the NCCE in educating citizens about their civic responsibilities is more crucial than ever, and Professor Gyamfi’s assertion highlights the need for urgent attention to address the commission’s resource constraints.
