By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Bolgatanga, Nov 30, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in partnership with the Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana), has hosted a parliamentary dialogue session among parliamentary candidates in the Bolgatanga Central constituency in the Upper East Region.
It was brought together Mr Isaac Adongo, the incumbent Member of Parliament and parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Elvis Figo Awonekai, parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party; and Mr. Peter Akunlibe, candidate for the People’s National Congress, among other stakeholders.
The engagement, which formed part of NCCE’s effort to build social cohesion and create a peaceful atmosphere ahead of the December 7, 2024, elections, also aligned with RISE-Ghana’s Democracy 360 project in partnership with the Star-Ghana Foundation funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
It aimed at providing a platform for the parliamentary candidates to share their political party vision for the constituency and solicit their commitment to non-violence and issue-based campaigns for stakeholders to make informed decisions.
Mr Jafaru Alsadiq Omar, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of the NCCE, addressing the stakeholders, said the dialogue session was influenced by the commission’s research that it conducted this year, which highlighted prominent issues voters were expecting political parties to include in their manifestoes and deliver forthwith once they won power.
He said by bringing the parliamentary candidates together to share their visions, voters would be able to make informed decisions based on the parties commitment to addressing their needs.
Alhaji Awal Ahmed Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, indicated that beyond having the voices of the underrepresented and the marginalized being heard and knowing the policies these political parties were presenting as a societal contract, the aim was to be able to track these policies beyond the elections.
“Beyond the promises, we are interested in seeing how, after the election, we can continue to use the promises, which is the social contract they have signed with the people, to check on whoever is elected and hold them accountable,” he said.
Sheik Abu-Bakr Sadiq Rahman, the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee Chairman, said the development of every country relied on peace, and it was important political actors do not conduct themselves in ways that would jeopardize the peace of the country.
Mr Isaac Adongo, the incumbent Member of Parliament, while expressing his commitment to peaceful elections and touting his achievements over the years, promised to work to establish a teacher training college in the municipality if NDC was voted into power.
He added that he would also provide infrastructure to improve education, make available teaching and learning materials through the Ministry of Education, and work to improve the road network of the area.
On his part, Mr Elvis Figo Awonekai of the NPP, said despite only being a parliamentary candidate, he had constructed a number of boreholes, distributed learning materials to schools in the municipality, and carried out other crucial developmental initiatives.
He said given the mandate, he would improve the infrastructure of schools in the municipality, particularly the Sherigu Community School, to become top-notch institutions, improve the road network of the municipality, and work with his government to improve wifi connectivity in the secondary schools, among other things.
Mr Peter Akunlibe of the PNC said he would promote women’s empowerment, improve the infrastructure deficit in educational institutions in the municipality, and facilitate the youth to secure jobs, among other things if given the mandate.
GNA