That, the Chairperson of the Com­mission, Kathleen Addy explained was the only way to jealously guard, promote and protect the pride of the country that had enjoyed relative peace and unity under 30 years of democratic rule.

The pupils

She made the remarks at a durbar of chiefs, parents and pupils of the Anyanui community in the Anloga District of the Volta Region as part of activities commemorating this year’s Citizenship Week Celebrations organised by NCCE.

It was on the theme: ‘Thirty Years of Consolidated Constitutional De­mocracy; Building National Cohe­sion-The Role of the Ghanaian Child.’

According to Ms Addy, “30 years of uninterrupted democracy is no fluke, that is why we should not allow ourselves to be misled by politicians to foment trouble anywhere because it is a constitutional right to belong to different political parties, but that does not mean we are sworn ene­mies.”

“The time has come to maintain the spirit of loyalty, cultural tolerance, respect to the symbols of the state, especially, the National Anthem and the flag in order to cherish that fear­less honesty so that collectively we can uphold and defend the 1992 Constitu­tion at all times,” Ms Addy noted.

She urged parents to inculcate good moral behaviour in their wards, teach them rudiments of conflict resolution, how to live in peace with each other and also endeavour to exercise their rights without infringing on the rights of others.

The Volta Regional Director of the NCCE, Kenneth Kponor, said the Commission decided to include par­ents and other stakeholders in order to further educate, sensitise and create awareness on their rights and respon­sibilities and ways of involving their children in community activities.

The Anloga District Chief Execu­tive, Seth Yormewu, in his welcome address, observed that the Constitu­tion is a living testament and appealed for collective effort to preserve the values for the future generation.

The youth, he explained, must dis­play resilience and stand against injus­tice, adopt innovative ideas, promote tolerance and be ready to embrace skills training in order to become self-sufficient and responsible citizens who would also contribute their quota to the socioeconomic development of their communities.

The Municipal Director of Ed­ucation, Akpene Amebross, who bemoaned the falling standard of edu­cation in the area, admonished parents to double up their responsibilities in order to stem the tide.