Somaliland Delegation Pays Courtesy Call on Ghana’s Speaker as Part of Civic Education Partnership

Parliament House, Accra – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has facilitated a high-level visit by a delegation from the Somaliland Centre for Civic Education (SCCE) to the Speaker of Ghana’s Ninth Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, as part of efforts to deepen international cooperation on civic education.

The SCCE delegation is in Ghana to formalize a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NCCE, aimed at strengthening civic education systems in both countries.

Welcoming the visitors, Chairperson of the NCCE, Madam Kathleen Addy, highlighted the Commission’s growing international recognition and the increasing number of inquiries it receives regarding its operational model. She explained that this demand led to the establishment of a consultancy wing to guide other countries, such as Somaliland, in setting up sustainable civic education structures.

“The Somaliland team has shown admirable enthusiasm and commitment to civic engagement, and we are confident that this collaboration will serve their national interest,” Madam Addy said. “Their visit to Ghana allows them to witness our democratic evolution firsthand and learn from our institutional frameworks.”

The visiting delegation included Khadar Nur Abdi, Director-General at the Ministry of Parliamentary Relations and Constitutional Affairs in Somaliland, and Abdirisak Yusuf Jama, Director of the Centre for Civic Education and Democracy. Both expressed deep appreciation for Ghana’s hospitality and the opportunity to learn from the NCCE.

“We are inspired by the success of Ghana’s democratic journey and the vital role the NCCE has played,” Mr. Nur Abdi noted. “This partnership is a step forward for us as we seek to build similar structures back home.”

In his address, Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin praised the NCCE as a cornerstone of Ghana’s democracy and reaffirmed Parliament’s support for the new partnership.

“The framers of our 1992 Constitution made NCCE a constitutional body to ensure its independence and resilience,” the Speaker said. “While we acknowledge challenges in resourcing the Commission, we commend its consistent role in sustaining democratic governance.”

Speaker Bagbin assured the delegation and the NCCE of Parliament’s commitment to ensuring the success of the bilateral initiative, emphasizing its potential impact not only for Ghana and Somaliland but for Africa as a whole.

Also present at the meeting were key NCCE officials, including Deputy Chairman for General Services Victor Brobbey, Commission Secretary Lucille Hewlett Annan, and Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs Rita Amparbin.

The engagement marks a significant step toward fostering global partnerships in democratic education and civic empowerment.