Freedom of speech alone does not promote democracy – NCCE Director
The Gomoa West District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Georgina Yeboah has stated that, freedom of speech alone does not make a country democratic.
Ms Yeboah said this when she addressed a forum at Gomoa Mampong, near Agona Swedru, in the Gomoa West District.
She said “Democracy goes beyond freedom of speech”, and that, democracy involved respect for the rule of law, good governance, freedom of speech and vibrant media.
Ms Yeboah said though freedom of speech and vibrant media were necessary for promoting democracy, care must be taken not to use it to malign innocent people.
She noted with concern how insults had become part of freedom of speech in the country and tasked the media to malign such people.
The NCCE District Director pointed out that, due to the lack of circumspection in the use of some issues, which promote democracy, the country was promoting indiscipline in the name of democracy.
She appealed to all well-meaning Ghanaians, especially politicians and religious leaders to arrest this canker, which was fast creeping into the society, before it gets out of hand.
“People can just call a radio station and insult even the President of the nation and go scot-free because the person in exercising his or her democratic rights”, she said.
Ms Yeboah stressed that the cultural and moral values of the nation must not be sacrificed on the altar of democracy.
“The value of respect for elders and leaders have been thrown to the dogs”, she lamented.
Ms. Yeboah appealed to Unit Committee and assembly members to find time to educate their people on the 1992 constitution on which the people’s daily activities were based.
She said the people would willingly contribute their quota towards the governance of the country if they were well vexed in the constitution.
At least, she said they would know that insisting on their rights goes with responsibilities they must exercise.
Mr Ewusi Wilson, District Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation and the assembly member for the area, called on chiefs and queens to support unit committees to perform efficiently.
Nana Mensah Essel VIII Chief of Gomoa Mampong appealed to the Assembly to impress upon the contractor, working on a GETFund sponsored six-unit classroom project for the past four years to complete the work.
Source: GNA