The
National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Saturday commenced the second
phase of its community sensitisation meetings on democracy and responsible
citizenship with 20 communities in Foni, West Coast Region.
Speaking
at the Kaimoh Karanai village on Saturday, Ansumana Yabou, NCCE senior Civic
Education Officer, described democracy is a system of government by the whole
population or all the eligible members of a state, through their elected
representatives.
Mr
Yabou threw more light on the importance of voting and citizens participation
in national development.
He
called on citizens to jealously guard the peace and stability of the country,
adding that people should do away with tribalism and put the country’s interest
first.
He noted that all citizens are equal and
should be given equal opportunities regardless of gender, tribe or religion.
Mr
Yabou challenged citizens to hold authorities responsible after voting them
into offices, saying constituencies should be calling their national assembly
members for meetings to point out their needs if the NAMs are not forthcoming
to know what their needs and constraints are.
Yabou
stated that they all have the right to information but added that some people
are abusing information in the name of democracy by spreading false news and
hate speeches and therefore, called on them to desist from such.
Democracy
goes with law, rights and responsibilities, he highlighted, while calling on
the people to live together in peace, love and respect for one another.
He
remarked that it was the duty of every citizen to defend the constitution, and
urged citizens to be paying their compound rates to ensure they are able to
benefit from developments and also hold authorities accountable.
At
Batabutu Kantora, Junkung Saidy, also a senior civic education officer at NCCE,
explained to the gathering when, where and how democracy came about.
He
informed the gathering that their office always sensitises citizens on issues
happening at the time, saying that power and voices belong to citizens as they
are the ones that usually elect authorities into power.
“You
elect leaders or representatives to bring you development and can vote them out
if they do not serve the purpose you voted them in for,” he advised the
gathering.
He
said the government should know and be prepared to address the needs of its
citizens.
“A
good citizen should always ask what he can do for his country and not what his
country can for him,” he declared.
He
called on citizens to be prepared to seek knowledge and contribute to national
development.
Kaddy
Bojang, a native of Kaimoh Karanai commended NCCE for their tremendous work in
educating citizens, admitting that they now know the true meaning of democracy
and would share the knowledge gained with others.
She
appealed to NCCE to return in a few months to educate them more on the
constitution.
Modou
Lamin Sanyang of Batabutu Kantora urged beneficiaries to apply the knowledge
gained for the benefit of the country.
Sambou
Jarju of Sitta village commended NCCE for reaching out to communities to
sensitise them.
Janko
Jarju, Alkalo of Sitta village, said politics has been in existence since the
time of the prophet and urged people to accept God’s will and not do things
that are not in conformity with the law.
“Differences
cannot bring the nation any development,” he said while urging all to unite and
live together as one family.
