Promoting Extra-Electoral Citizen Participation: The Role of The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Debates surrounding the importance of civic education, particularly its relationship with political participation, have been extensive. These two concepts are widely recognized and studied as prerequisites for robust fledgling democracies. This study aimed to contribute to this debate by examining the role of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in promoting civic education and its effect on extra-electoral political participation in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Specifically, the research explored: (1) the constitutional mandate of the NCCE; (2) the strategies adopted by the NCCE for providing and promoting civic education (3) the impact of these strategies on extra-electoral political engagement; (4) the challenges affecting the NCCE's ability to provide and promote civic education; and (5) recommendations for enhancing the NCCE's effectiveness and efficiency. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach for data collection. Surveys were employed to explore citizens' perspectives, while interviews gathered insights from NCCE personnel, academics, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). A total of 200 residents in the Greater Accra Region were sampled via survey, and eight individuals were purposively selected from the NCCE, CSOs, and academia for interviews. The study highlighted the association between civic education and extra-electoral political participation. The findings revealed that while the NCCE had strategies for advancing civic education, their impact was largely unperceived by the public, who reported not having received such an education. This lack of awareness correlated with the public's limited involvement in extra electoral political participation activities. However, the NCCE faced significant challenges, primarily related to funding. Based on expert interactions and survey findings, the study offers recommendations to enhance the NCCE's effectiveness in promoting civic education and improving the quality of extra-electoral political participation in Ghana