The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Wednesday called for the inculcation of civic virtues in the citizenry through the youth to deepen democratic governance.
"The sustainability and growth of African democracy depend on the civic consciousness of the youth and active participation of students in national affairs at their levels," Mr Baron Amoafoh, NCCE Deputy Chairman in Charge of Programmes, stated in Accra.
Mr Amoafoh was speaking at the final phase of Project Citizen Ghana, a portfolio-based civic education programme aimed at promoting competent and responsible participation in local and national government.
The final competition of Project Citizen Ghana on the theme: "Consolidating Democracy through Youth Participation," was organised by NCCE in collaboration with CIVITAS Ghana, Hanns Seidel Stiftung and Centre for Civic Education of United States of America.
It is also expected to help young people learn how to monitor and influence public policy and develop support for democratic values and rule of law.
The NCCE Deputy Chairman said the youth who were often trumpeted as future leaders must be cultured in the tenets of good governance.
He therefore called on civil society activists, religious and traditional leaders, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to join forces with the NCCE to inculcate civic virtues in the citizenry.
Mrs Frances Fanny Kumah, Project Coordinator, said the project, which began in 2006, was aimed at boosting the country's democratic process and expressed the hope that it would "churn out" people who would be very active in all spheres of the nation.
She explained that the project was inter-disciplinary and would ensure that the students were equipped with skills that carried the components of tolerance, civility, hard work, compromise, dialogue, consensus building and co-operation.
The three-day competition involves 10 regional champions from second cycle institutions including defending champions, Accra High Senior School, Mawuli Senior High School representing Volta Region, and Archbishop Porter Girls School representing Western Region.
Others are Tema Senior High School, representing Greater Accra Region, St Francis Xavier Seminary representing Upper West Region, Aburi Girls Senior High School representing Eastern Region, Adisadel College representing Central Region and Tamale Senior High School representing Northern Region.
The rest are Rock Foundation High Academy, representing Upper East Region, Notre Damme Senior High representing Brong Ahafo Region and St Louis Senior High School representing Ashanti Region.