BECE - Basic Education Certificate Examination Governance and Civic Responsibility Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a primary civic responsibility of a Ghanaian citizen as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution?
- Joining a political party
- Upholding and defending the Constitution (Correct answer)
- Traveling outside the country for holidays
- Starting a personal business
Correct answer: Upholding and defending the Constitution
Article 41(b) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana explicitly states that it is the duty of every citizen to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law. While other activities are rights or personal choices, defending the constitution is a fundamental civic obligation.
Question 2: A community is facing challenges with sanitation and waste disposal. As a responsible citizen, what is the MOST appropriate initial action to take?
- Organize a protest at the regional capital
- Write an article complaining in the national newspaper
- Report the issue to the local Assembly Member or Unit Committee (Correct answer)
- Ignore the problem as it is the government's job to solve
Correct answer: Report the issue to the local Assembly Member or Unit Committee
The District Assembly is the highest political authority responsible for the overall development of the district, including sanitation. The Assembly Member is the elected representative of the electoral area. Therefore, reporting the issue to them is the correct and most effective first step to engage the local governance structure designed to handle such problems.
Question 3: In Ghana's system of governance, the District Assembly has deliberative, executive, and legislative functions. Its executive functions are primarily carried out by the
- Member of Parliament
- Presiding Member
- District Chief Executive (Correct answer)
- Regional Minister
Correct answer: District Chief Executive
The District Chief Executive (DCE), appointed by the President with the Assembly's approval, serves as the head of the Executive Committee of the District Assembly and is responsible for the day-to-day administration and implementation of the Assembly's decisions.
Question 4: A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf is best described as a
- Monarchy
- Dictatorship
- Representative Democracy (Correct answer)
- Theocracy
Correct answer: Representative Democracy
A representative democracy, also known as a republic, is a system where citizens vote for officials to represent their interests and make laws and policies. This is different from a monarchy (rule by a monarch), a dictatorship (rule by one person with absolute power), or a theocracy (rule by religious leaders).
Question 5: All of the following are important for promoting national unity in Ghana EXCEPT
- Fostering a spirit of loyalty to Ghana that overrides ethnic loyalties
- Promoting respect for the rights and freedoms of others
- Focusing only on the development of one's own ethnic group (Correct answer)
- Participating in national events and respecting national symbols
Correct answer: Focusing only on the development of one's own ethnic group
National unity is built by fostering a sense of common identity and purpose. Focusing solely on one's own ethnic group promotes division and works against the principle of national integration. The other options are all positive actions that help to unify a diverse country like Ghana.
Question 6: The 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms for all persons. This means that
- citizens can do anything they want without consequences
- these rights can never be limited under any circumstances
- foreigners in Ghana are not entitled to any rights
- these rights must be respected, but are subject to the rights of others and public interest (Correct answer)
Correct answer: these rights must be respected, but are subject to the rights of others and public interest
Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution outlines fundamental human rights. However, it also specifies that the enjoyment of these rights is subject to the respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest. This creates a balance, ensuring that one person's freedom does not infringe upon another's.
BECE - Basic Education Certificate Examination Governance and Civic Responsibility Questions and Answers 1
Which of the following is a primary civic responsibility of a Ghanaian citizen as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution?