NCCE EDUCATES WOMEN ON RULE OF LAW & ANTICORRUPTION FIGHT 15th OCTOBER, 2025

Over 50 women from various women’s groups, religious bodies, Persons Living with Disabilities and some minority tribes in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, have been educated on the principles of rule of law and Ghana’s anti-corruption campaign. The one-day education forum held in Paga, the district’s capital, was on the theme “Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against corruption”.

The National Commission for Civic Education [NCCE] is the main implementing agency for these targeted educational campaigns for women’s groups in 60 districts across the 16 regions of Ghana. This activity is an initiative under the mother-project known as the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy [PAIReD] which is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development [BMZ]. The project is co-financed by the European Union [EU] and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs [SECO] and with support from the Ministry of Finance.    

Kassena-Nankana West District Director for the NCCE, Mr. Robert Dampare in his welcome remarks said it was always fulfilling for him and his officers to serve as channels for interfacing with people at the local level for national development. He disclosed that the NCCE was enjoined to carry out the public education engagements under very informal, interactive and practical atmosphere in order to allow for the women to share real-life experiences freely, avoid political biases, focus on citizenship, empowerment and development issues affecting women. Additionally, the office is minded to ensure inclusivity with special attention to women from maginalised/vulnerable groups as well as deploy the use of local languages and the collection of feedback from the sessions.

Upper East Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, ASP Mariam Awemoni in her presentation on Civic Rights and Responsibilities under the 1992 Constitution stated that, the Constitution guarantees the fundamental human rights and freedoms for all persons and encouraged women to exercise their rights fully and participate actively in civic life. She also urged women not to shy away from positions of public office and responsibilities but rather, present themselves as positive contributors to peace building, social cohesion and agents of community development through civic engagements and responsible citizenship.

ASP Mariam Awemoni, Presenting

ASP Awemoni noted that women’s associations often play crucial roles in empowering women, fostering community development and advocating for social justice. They also ensure market accountability through transparency and sustainable progress. She remarked from a famous quote that, “a woman is the full circle; within her is the power to create, nurture and transform”.

The police officer charged women to be the perpetual support base for their peers and support them to take up leadership and decision-making roles in the community as they are best positioned to effectively articulate issues and champion the welfare of women. She also appealed to women to dissuade their husbands and children from acts of corruption as this would negatively affect the progress of public development and also deprive families of good parenting and human resource as culprits could be jailed in the process.

Taking his turn, Mr. Braimah Sanjage, the CEO of a Navrongo-based NGO, STA4GRAB made a presentation on the key areas of women’s rights and disclosed that under social and cultural rights; women have the right to equal access to all levels of education, enjoy freedom from harmful cultural practices, equality in marriage and family life as well as freedom of thought and expression.

Mr. Sanjage noted however that despite significant progress, women’s rights are not yet fully realized anywhere in the world, with the challenges varying from region to region. He mentioned for instance that on a global scale, there exists a gender pay gap where women still earn less than their male counterparts while there is women under-representation in leadership in the government, corporate boardrooms and other positions of power. He also insisted that violence against women still persists in society of today regardless of the rights enshrined in the Constitution, with women mostly at the receiving end of it all. If this must be ended, he proposes that all must be vigilant and ready to report any infractions of these rights without fear or favour.

Among the topics they women were taken through included the Rule of Law and Women’s Rights, Corruption and Women’s Vulnerability, Women as Change Agents, Forms of Corruption and Community Integrity and Market Accountability.