By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Nangodi (U/E), Nov 28, GNA- The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held a parliamentary dialogue for parliamentary candidates in the Nabdam Constituency for Election 2024.
The dialogue is part of the commission’s efforts to provide a common platform for candidates of political parties to share their visions with their constituents and for them to assess them and hold them accountable when in power,
The initiative was a collaboration with the Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana) and brought together parliamentary candidates of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the only contestants for the parliamentary seat for Nabdam.
Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and parliamentary candidate for the NDC, while touting his achievements for almost eight years as MP, indicated that he had constructed a number of CHIPS compounds, drilled boreholes, and constructed classroom blocks.
He said given the mandate to lead, with his party’s flagbearer as president, he would advance the development of the area in terms of health, agriculture, and education, which were development challenges in the district.
“If you go to some of the schools, there are no textbooks, and they don’t even have furniture to sit on. As MP, I have donated some furniture to the schools, but that is inadequate, and given the mandate, I will ensure no school in the district exists without furniture,” Dr. Nawaane explained.
Mr. Charles Taleog Ndanbon, the NPP parliamentary candidate, touted the achievement of the government in the area of roads constructed and reshaped, the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme and school blocks and boreholes constructed by the District Assembly under the NPP government.
He said even though policies like the Free SHS had come with its challenges, the government has demonstrated its commitment over the years to resolving them.
He said he is also committed to advancing development in the area of agriculture, health, among others as he has already done in some parts of the constituency despite not being MP.
Mr. Ndanbon said:” The development of every nation is hinged on education, and given the mandate, it will be one of my priorities.
“I will not be like others who neglect some students because they don’t belong to their party; every student in this District will benefit from my MP’s Common Fund if I am given the nod.”
Mr. Joachim Elbazer, the Nabdam NCCE Director, in an address said the dialogue had become necessary following the Commission’s research conducted, which highlighted key issues, including Education, Employment, Health care, Roads, and the Economy, as their major concerns.
He said with the platform provided, it would trigger the politics of issues rather than insults and enable the electorates to appreciate the policies by the candidates that address their concerns and make their decisions accordingly.
Mr. Elbazar called on the party faithful to ensure a violence-free election to propel the development of the area.
Mr. John Kaguna, Project Officer at RISE-Ghana, indicated that its project dubbed “Democracy 360” in partnership with the Star Ghana Foundation, aligned perfectly with the NCCE’s initiative; however, it further sought to track parties’ manifestoes beyond the elections for the benefit of the underrepresented in society.
“It should not be the case that citizens are only active in politics when it is time for voting, because the moment a candidate promises to do this and that, it becomes a social contract, and we should be able to follow up for the realization of that promise when the candidate wins, and that is what we are focused on,” he said.
GNA