By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Sept. 09, GNA – Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, the Tema East Member of Parliament (MP), has urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to set its priorities right, to be able to attract funding to carry out its full mandate.
Mr Odamtten said it was important that the NCCE set its priorities right and develop a strong strategic plan to be factored into the medium-term framework for the necessary funding and change in the Commission’s work.
He made the call when he paid a working visit to the NCCE Tema Metropolitan Office to interact with the staff on their operations and challenges.
Mr Odamtten indicated that parliament had a Standing Committee for the independent constitutional bodies, which included the NCCE, and that the Committee had responsibilities such as investigating strategic plan, performance and annual budget hearing, audit report, operational activities, and others of the constitutional bodies.
He said the visit was to tighten his relationship with the NCCE, explaining that as a member of the Committee it had given him more insight into what the Commission operations.
The MP disclosed that the Committee had begun the review of the works of all the constitutional bodies, noting that they did not want to have a situation where “ordinary commissions’ and authorities’ setups were now more resourced and operational than those forebearers who established our constitution.”
He said the Committee also envisioned how to avoid duplicity of function, questioning why the Ghana Revenue Authority for instance, would spend so much on announcements when they could utilise the NCCE offices in the districts and regions to conduct such education and sensitisation.
Responding to the challenges faced by the Tema metro office of the NCCE, he pledged to use part of his common fund to provide one set of desktop computers and a UPS power backup system for the office to replace a faulty one.
Ms Gifty Agyeiwaa Badu, the Tema Metro Director of the NCCE, commended the MP for his consistent support to the Commission and participation in its activities, especially the 2024 Parliamentary Candidates’ Dialogue and the 2025 Security Constitution Quiz Competition.
Touching on their challenges, said the NCCE’s present office location within the Tema Community Centre at the precinct of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) was inadequate, as currently the 12-member staff had to squeeze into the small space to discharge their duties.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo