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 that when she addressed a forum at Gomoa Mampong, near Agona Swedru, in the Gomoa West District.
Ms Yeboah said though freedom of speech and vibrant media were necessary for promoting democracy, care needed to be taken not to use it to malign other 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 said due to the lack of circumspection, sometimes, issues which promote democracy, tend rather to promote indiscipline in the name of democracy.
She appealed to all, particularly, politicians and religious leaders to arrest this canker, which is 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 is exercising his or her democratic rights,” she pointed out.
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 complained.
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-versed in the constitution. At least, she said, they would know that rights come with responsibilities.
The District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation and the assembly member for the area, Mr Ewusi Wilson, called on chiefs and queens to support unit committees to perform efficiently.
The Chief of Gomoa Mampong, Nana Mensah Essel VIII, 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. — GNA
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