Tempane (UER) Dec. 7, GNA – The Institute for Democratic Governance’s (IDEG) GIF Elections Platform, which is also known as the Parliamentary Candidates debate, has successfully ended in the Tempane Constituency of the Upper East Region.
The debate, which was part of a series of Parliamentary Debates, being organised by IDEG across the country in selected constituencies, seeks to provide a platform for the political parties to publicise their manifestos and development plans for their constituencies.
It also aimed at creating the space and environment for policy dialogues and a more issues driven-driven campaign, while promoting bargaining and democratic social contracting between citizens and their representatives
The event, which was organised with support from STAR-Ghana, the Danish Institute of Parties and Democracy, the Ford Foundation, and Mondelez International, attracted a massive procession and wild jubilation in Garu Tempane, where supporters of the various political parties poured on the streets amidst drumming and dancing to the Teachers Credit Union Hall, to support their candidates.
The participating candidates included, Mr Joseph Dindeok Kpenka of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Samson Laar of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Mr Sampson Ayaaba of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Dr Francis Adam Asaana, an independent candidate.
Mr David Adakudugu, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who is the incumbent Member of Parliament, could not participate in the debate because he had to leave for an emergency meeting in Accra.
Dr Kwesi Jonah, who is a Senior Research Fellow at IDEG, urged the citizens to use the platform as an opportunity to assess the candidates and their policies, and to subsequently hold them accountable when they are elected into office.
The issues of the debate were: Education and Health and Employment, which were drawn from a study conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education in 2016, on Matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter, with particular reference to the Region.
Like their euphoric supporters, the candidates were full of enthusiasm and energy as they delivered their addresses and responded to questions from the audience.
GNA
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