Adherence to democratic principles remains choice of governance – Akua Zakaria

The Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Akua Zakaria, has observed that adherence to democratic principles remains the best choice of governance.

She explained that adherence to democratic principles would build a stable and prosperous country given the chaotic scenes, blatant abuse of human rights and other autocratic tendencies associated with military regimes.

“The Commission will not relent in its education and sensitisation of political parties to always be development-oriented and to inform the citizenry of theprogrammes they have lined up to transform their lives,” Madam Zakaria said.

Addressing a meeting of Inter Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) at Oforikrom, in the Greater Kumasi area of the Ashanti Region, she noted that the country had come a long way in building good democratic tenets under the Fourth Republican Constitution.

It was organised by Oforikrom Municipal Office of NCCE aimed to reignite dialogue among political parties and other stakeholders on collective responsibility in ensuring peaceful co-existence.

The meeting which was on the theme: ‘Empowering Ghanaians to stand for national cohesion and inclusive participation’, formed part of the Commission’s implementation of peace campaign being executed in collaboration with Ministry of National Security with support from the European Commission.

Madam Zakaria was worried about a section of citizens engaging in hate speech and violence which ought to be avoided to help promote peaceful co-existence and participating inclusiveness and appealed to Ghanaians to join thecampaign against violent extremism, which posed threat to national security, stability, cohesion and harmony.

“They should know that ensuring security of the Ghanaian society is a shared responsibility, we plead with leadership of political parties not to stoke tension as they sought to win confidence and mandate of the people and task the committee to increase education and sensitisation on political tolerance.

“Advocate unity of purpose and diversity of ideas since politics is about progress, growth and development of people and communities, gains made ought to be protected for benefit of society so why should our political differences divide us or plunge the nation into confusion?” Madam Zakaria quizzed.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, in a presentation, took the participants through the Public Order Act, Vigilantism and Related Offences and implored the citizenry to be abreast of the Act and endeavour to abide by it for sanity to prevail in society. -GNA