By Regina Benneh
Odomase, (B/R), Nov. 25, GNA –Anxious electorate in the Sunyani West Constituency, eager to hear what programmes the parliamentary candidates (PCs) of the various political parties had for them left a parliamentary debate disappointed as the candidates failed to tum up at the debate.
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the district had organised the debate to create a common platform for Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) and the party Election 2024 PC and Millicent Yeboah Amankwaa, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) PC to outline their visions for the constituency.
That would empower the electorates to make informed or discerning decisions on the December 7 General Election.
The highly expectant electorate, comprising chiefs and queens, students, as well as representatives of religious bodies, had already sat for the programme to commence at the Odomase Presbyterian Church, only for the NCCE officials to announce postponement of the debate.
According to Madam Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the NCCE, the commission wrote officially to, and reminded the PCs of the impending debate, saying it was unfortunate that they failed to turn up.
Addressing the electorate, Mad Boadu urged the public to appreciate the prevailing peace of the nation, saying that democracy remained key to development and urged the electorates to ensure that they voted for people with good behaviour to occupy leadership positions in politics.
“Yesterday is different from today, and therefore politicians can no longer take voters for granted,” she stated and urged politicians to respect, uphold and defend principles and values of democracy.
Mad Boadu also advised the electorates to allow the interest of the nation to supersede their personal or political interest and ambitions and contribute to strengthening national peace in the electioneering.
She cautioned first-time voters not to follow political parties and candidates blindly but vote for political parties with sound and realistic policies and programmes that would facilitate the progressive development of the nation.
Mad Boadu said voting remained a civic right and urged all eligible voters to go out all in their numbers and exercise their franchise on voting day, Saturday December 7, 2024.
GNA