By Samuel Yaokumah
Mamfe-Akuapem (E/R), Nov. 13, GNA – The chiefs and people of Akuapem North Constituency have held political dialogue featuring representatives of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress at the forecourt of the Mamfe Chief’s Palace.
This event aimed to engage the community in a constructive and respectful discussion as the parties sought to convince constituents to support their candidacies in the upcoming elections.
Organized by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) on the theme “Together We Can Build Ghana,” the event emphasized the importance of free, fair, and peaceful elections before, during, and after the general election scheduled for December 7, 2024.
In her welcoming address, Madam Benedicta Duvor, the Municipal Director of NCCE, highlighted the mandate of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which empowers every citizen to exercise their franchise responsibly.
She urged citizens to make informed voting decisions based on the issues at hand.
Additionally, she stressed the importance of candidates assuring the public of a peaceful electoral atmosphere.
She encouraged attendees to actively engage with the candidates’ plans and visions, emphasizing the necessity of holding elected officials accountable for their promises and commitments.
Madam Duvor said that “every citizen including party foot soldiers and sympathizers need to understand that election is not war but making one’s opinion through a secret ballot.”
She added that the citizens should desist from taking items and cash from candidates before voting for them saying, “See, do not sell your conscience to the devil by making a wrongful choice which will go a long way to deny the nation a dignify leader.”
She also echoed that NCCE had carried thorough research into the way candidates canvassed for vote and decided to help the citizenry derive certain basic understanding through these thematic areas that could help them make an informed decision when casting their votes.
These areas include education, employment, health, roads and infrastructure, economy and agriculture.
She emphasized the importance of the public paying close attention to these thematic areas and ensuring that politicians followed through on their promises, rather than being swayed by cash and material incentives.
Madam Duvor advised the electorate to abide by the law and not take matters into their own hands at the polling stations. She emphasized that voters should return home after casting their votes and come back at 6:00 PM to observe the counting and results at the polling station.
Rev. Owusu Addo, a member of the interparty dialogue committee, outlined the rules of the debate, urging the contestants to act with decorum and respect in their discussions.
He urged them to focus on sharing their visions and addressing specific areas of public interest so that the debate would not devolve into unnecessary arguments or innuendos.
Unfortunately, Mr. Sammi Awuku, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate was unable to attend but sent his sincere apologies through party representatives.
During the interaction, Mr. John Evans Kumordzi, NDC Parliamentary Candidate, outlined his vision and plans for the constituency, stating that his focus would be on job creation.
He expressed concern about the large number of unemployed youths, particularly university graduates, loitering on the streets, which he said could potentially spark social vices if the issue was not addressed.
As a former police officer, he pledged to ensure that many young people gained employment in the security services, including the police, army, immigration, and fire service, among others.
He also pointed out the need for training programmes for artisans to support the less privileged in society as well as highlighting the importance of agriculture, promising to subsidize fertilizer and providing seedlings to farmers.
He reminisced about the days when the area was known for its state farm, particularly for large-scale palm plantation cultivation and promised to promote state farming and the cultivation of vegetables and other crops to create job opportunities for youth.
He also pledged to ensure that, subsidize fertilizers and provide free seedlings to encourage farming.
During the question-and-answer session, a member of the Peace Council praised him for rising from humble beginnings but advised him to be more careful with his language, particularly his claim that the NDC would “match boot for boot” with the NPP.
GNA