The Gomoa West District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Andrews Ofori Larbi has urged Ghanaians to use freedom of expression and press freedom responsibly to enhance constitutionalism and good governance.
Addressing a forum at Mumford in the Central Region to mark the 10th Constitution Week, Mr Larbi said people should not misconstrue fundamental human rights to engage in rresponsible behaviour that could pose serious
threat to the country's democratic dispensation.
Speaking on the theme for the celebration: "Enhancing constitutionalism through effective citizens participation for good governance," the NCCE Director noted that a lot of prominent citizens, especially women, shun politics and did not want to participate in any discussions on national issues because of how they would be branded in the media.
"Irresponsible use of the freedom of speech and freedom of the press are not only challenges to democracy but also make politics nasty," he
noted.
He said to encourage people to become part of governance the use of the media to insult and to delve into people's private affairs must stop while radio phone-in programmes should be controlled.
Mr Larbi called on government to support the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to build strong and effective lower structures like Unit Committees to serve as focal points for mobilising people for development.
Mr Godfred Awotey, Mumford Zonal National Disaster Management Organisation Co-ordinator appealed to the Constitutional Review Committee to amend the Constitution to give the President a five-year term instead of the current four years.
This, he said would give future heads of state enough time to implement their development agenda.
Mr Awotey also appealed to the Review Committee to recommend reducing the number of the membership of unit committees from the current 15 to about seven to make it effective.