The National Commission for Civic Education and Ghana's democracy: A case of the Cape Coast metropolis

Abstract

Educating individuals on their rights and responsibilities is an essential ingredient for developing and consolidating democracy in the world, especially in developing countries. This study sought to find out the impact of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Ghana’s democratic dispensation in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Essentially the study explored the awareness of people about the NCCE and its activities, challenges and effective ways of disseminating government policies and programmes as well as how the NCCE can improve its activities. Basically the descriptive sample survey design was used in the study. In all, 220 participants were used for the study comprising 20 officials from the NCCE District Office in Cape Coast and 200 participants from the general public in Cape Coast. The multistage sampling procedure was used to select the participants for the study. The main research instrument for the research was the questionnaire for the NCCE’s staff and interview schedule for the general public. Frequencies and percentages as well as percent rank were employed for the data analysis. The study established that the NCCE was constrained mainly by the inability of personnel to upgrade their skills for the operation. It was evident that the NCCE was constrained namely by the inability of personal to upgrade their skills and poor logistics for their operation. Based on the findings, it was recommended that regular in-service training should be organized for NCCE personnel and adequate logistics provided for the day to day activities.