The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged the citizenry, particularly the youth, to take active responsibility for protecting the country’s democratic gains through ethical conduct, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

The Central Regional Director of the NCCE, Mercy Essien, who made the call, said democracy could only thrive when citizens demanded accountability, participated actively in governance processes, and held public officials responsible for their actions.

She was speaking at a youth dialogue organised by the NCCE under the Participation, Accountability, and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIR-RED) programme in Cape Coast.

The event brought together student leaders from universities and colleges, executives of civic education clubs and community youth leaders to discuss ethical leadership, democratic governance, and citizen participation.

The PAIR-RED programme is being implemented by the NCCE in partnership with GIZ and the Ministry of Finance, with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union, and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

The initiative seeks to promote citizen participation, accountability, and integrity as key pillars of the country’s democratic development.

Integrity

Ms Essien observed that corruption, abuse of office, and disregard for national laws were often linked to weak ethical values and a failure to uphold integrity, stressing that the future of the country’s democracy depended on responsible citizenship.

She said citizens must see themselves as partners in governance rather than passive observers, adding that their daily choices and actions contributed to the strength or weakness of democratic institutions.

Ms Essien urged young people to embrace integrity, transparency, and accountability long before they assumed positions of authority.

“Leadership begins long before one occupies a position of authority.

The decisions and actions young people take today will shape the kind of leaders they become tomorrow,” she said.

She explained that ethical leadership was not a quality to be adopted only after gaining political power or public office but a value that must guide everyday behaviour.

She encouraged the youth to demonstrate honesty, fairness, and responsibility in their schools, workplaces and communities.

A Legal Officer at the Central Regional office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Kweku Simpson, described corruption as a major obstacle to the country’s development.

He said many national challenges, including abandoned projects and poor public services, were linked to leaders failing to act in the interest of the public.

Mr Simpson warned student leaders against influence peddling, nepotism, and favouritism, saying such practices often begin in smaller leadership spaces before becoming national problems.

“Leadership is about solving problems, not rewarding cronies. If politics is not producing problem-solvers, then we are failing as a country,” he said.