Ansumana
Yabou, civic education officer at the National Council for Civic Education
(NCCE) has highlighted that civic education should be progress driven and not
event driven, and therefore called on government to fully empower and support
the NCCE.
Mr.
Yabou made these remarks at Fatako village in Jimara District, Upper River
Region as part of his office civic dialogue with communities on
constitutionalism, democracy and peace building under the theme “enhancing
constitutionalism, democratic governance and social cohesion.”
The
sensitization, targeting 120 communities across the country over three phases
between 21 November to 30 December 2019 is aimed at enlightening Gambians on
the principles of the constitution, how to defend and respect other laws of the
country as well as on their fundamental human rights, responsibilities and
duties as citizens.
He
noted that civic education is highly demanding and should be present in all
regions to ensure they are closer to communities.
“The
only way citizens can fully participate in national development is when they
know their roles and responsibilities”, he stated, saying most of the problems
within the country are the result of lack of proper civic education.
He
also urged communities to nurture what they are sensitised on as well as hold
their leaders to account to ensure they serve them better.
He
further urged communities to engage their councils to ensure taxes they pay are
ploughed back to them in forms of development, saying: “councils should not be
left on their own.”
According
to him, “the country belongs to citizens and they are mandated to elect people
into positions to serve them better.”
Ansumana
Ceesay, senior programme officer at NCCE, said ignorance of the law is not an
excuse; and as such it is an obligation on all citizens to know the
constitution, saying this is why they embarked on the sensitisation.
He
added that they want citizens to understand that democracy means value and
tolerance among Gambians, pointing out that democracy has been a household word
but most people do not know the true meaning.
Mr.
Ceesay said democracy calls for equality, unity and respect for each other and
therefore called on Gambians to end their political differences.
Junkung
Saidy, also a civic education officer at NCCE said peace is not only the
absence of war and therefore called on Gambians to nurture and safeguard the
peace and stability of the country.
“You
never know the importance of peace until you lose it”, he remarked.
