“Build strong culture of awareness in Ghana”, Akufo-Addo to NCCE boss
President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged the newly appointed chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Kathleen Addy, and her team, to do all within their mandate, to build a “strong culture of awareness” among Ghanaians, of their civic responsibilities and duties.
This task, according to the President, has become even more necessary and important now in the country because some persons had decided to “decend as low as calling for the overthrow of the prevailing constitutional order in the country.”
The President gave the NCCE boss the charge today 16 June 2022, at the Jubilee House, after he swore her into office by administrating the Oaths of Office and Secrecy to her.
Referring to Article 233 of the 1992 Constitution, which is on the functions of the NCCE, the President emphasized on clause (C) of Article 233, which states that the NCCE shall;
“Formulate for the consideration of Government, from time to time, programmes at the national, regional and district levels aimed at realising the objectives of the Constitution”, and noted, “Since its establishment some 30 years ago, the NCCE has done its part in helping Ghanaians realize the importance of their freedoms and civic rights even though it can still do much better in this regard”.
“Despite concerns raised in some quarters about the effectiveness of the NCCE in the discharge of its functions, with some going so far as to advocating for its abolishing,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“I am of a different opinion. I believe the NCCE continues to be relevant and still has an important role to play in helping to establish a culture of awareness in our country where citizens are alive to their civic responsibilities and duties, especially at this time when some irresponsible elements within the body politic, are calling for the overthrow of the constitutional order,” the President added.
No interference
President Akufo-Addo in his address, indicated that his administration, will do nothing to interfer with the independence of the NCCE as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic.
“I assure you Madam Chairperson, of government’s recognition as enshrined in Act 452, of the independence of the NCCE,” Akufo-Addo said.
Stakeholder consultations
Stakeholder consultations by the NCCE, President Akufo-Addo observed, should be a top priority of the new Chairperson.
He noted that, effective NCCE consultations with her relevant stakeholders, will go a long way to influence the ability of the Commission to execute its mandate.
“I will urge you to pursue stakeholder consultations to the successful fulfillment of the commission’s mandate,” the President said.
Commitment to build
In her acceptance speech, Kathleen Addy, registered her appreciation to the President for appointing her to the office of Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education.
She observed that the NCCE, in her view, is one of the most important institutions in Ghana, tasked with the responsibility of sharpening the minds of the people, and “building the people that will build the Republic.”
“I assure you Mr President, that I will lead the Commission to fulfil its mandate and to undertake its functions as prescribed by the constitution,” Ms Addy said.
“Myself, the commissioners, directors and staff of NCCE will do our best in executing our heavy mandate,” she added.
The appointment
President Akufo-Addo, acting in line with Article 232 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 4 (a) of the National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE) Act 1993 (Act 452), appointed Ms Kathleen Addy as the acting chair of the NCCE on the 1 May 2022.
Until this latest appointment, Kathleen Addy was the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission. Ms Addy took over the top job at the NCCE from Josephine Nkrumah, who resigned on 21 February, with an effective date of 30 April 2022.
Josephine Nkrumah stepped down from the NCCE to take up a new role as the special representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia.
The confirmation of Ms Addy’s appointment was subject to the advice of the Council of State to the President, in line with Article 232 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, which states: “Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Council of State”.
Profile of Kathleen Addy
Kathleen Addy was appointed the Deputy Chair in charge of finance and administration at the National Commission for Civic Education by President Akufo-Addo in 2017.
The new NCCE chair holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Ghana and a Master’s degree in communications from the University of Ghana School of Communications Studies.
Ms Addy was communications manager for the Afrobarometer project at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, and has worked with other civil society organisations in Ghana.
She was previously a research and communications officer at the Centre for Policy Analysis, focusing on women’s economic empowerment and economic partnership agreements.
Through international trade, Kathleen Addy has worked on projects in domestic violence, gender and economic development as well as economic development.
