The National Commission for Civic Education held a 3-day teacher training in Kumasi, Ghana this May. Teachers from 10 regions attended the workshop that focused on youth better understanding their rights and civic responsibilities.

Teachers have been urged to help school children to have a better understanding of their fundamental rights and adopt positive disposition towards their civic responsibilities.

Ms Fanny Judith Kumah, a Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said this was necessary to deepen and strengthen the country’s democracy.

She was speaking at the opening of a three-day training of trainers workshop in Kumasi for some selected teachers drawn from all the 10 regions to assist them to have thorough grasp of public policies and the decision making process.

It is being held under the theme; “Equipping the Youth for Qualitative Participation in Ghana’s Democracy,” as part of the “Project Citizen Ghana.”

The NCCE is jointly organizing the programme with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the United States Center for Civic Education with sponsorship from Hans Seidel Foundation.

Project Citizen among other things aims at helping students to monitor and influence policy making in their communities.

Ms Kumah said it was important to aid the young people to develop intellectual and participatory skills that promoted critical thinking, effective communication and reflective thinking.

Mr Samuel Dayi, Programme Officer, Hans Seidel Foundation, said the Project Citizen was an interdisciplinary institutional programme crafted for use by adolescents in schools and community organizations to help them monitor and influence public policies.

He urged teachers and other stakeholders to work hard to increase their knowledge base and to demonstrate complete understanding of citizenship to consolidate the country’s democracy.