NDC and CPP Okere Parliamentary Candidates engage in debate

In a recent debate for the Okere Constituency, parliamentary candidates Prince Henry Owiredu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Joseph Kwadwo Afari-Yeboah of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) presented their platforms and visions for the constituency ahead of the upcoming elections.

Both candidates used the event to share their party’s policies and appeal to voters to support them and their respective presidential candidates.

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) organised the debate as part of its Parliamentary Candidates Debate Platforms, held at the Mile 14 Apostolic Church in Asenema. These platforms provide candidates with opportunities to outline their visions and address local issues that matter to the community.

During the debate, the NDC candidate, Prince Henry Owiredu, highlighted key points from the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto, urging constituents to support former President John Dramani Mahama and elect him to represent Okere in Parliament. The CPP candidate, Joseph Kwadwo Afari-Yeboah, likewise shared his vision and encouraged voters to elect Nana Akosua Frimpomaa as President and himself as their parliamentary representative.

Notably, Daniel Kenneth Nana Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, withdrew from the debate shortly before it began.

Audience members expressed enthusiasm for the event and encouraged the NCCE to host additional debates to foster community engagement and political awareness.

NCCE Eastern Regional Director, Ms. Ophelia Nana Yaa Ankrah, spoke at the debate about the commission’s goal to conduct similar events in all 276 constituencies. The NCCE aims to promote civic engagement by providing platforms for candidates to discuss their policies and connect with voters on national and local issues.

Ms. Ankrah emphasized the NCCE’s role in promoting issue-based and non-violent campaigns that encourage tolerance and peace throughout the election process.

Ms. Ankrah also discussed the NCCE’s constitutional mandate, which includes educating citizens on their civic rights and responsibilities. Recognizing the importance of citizen involvement in democracy, the NCCE instituted the Parliamentary Candidates Debates (PCDs) as a means of fostering interaction and accountability at the constituency level. As with past elections, the NCCE will host debates in all constituencies for the 2024 election cycle, providing a platform for candidates to engage with voters on pressing matters.

The debate covered a range of priority topics, which the NCCE will use to inform its Matters of Concern (MoC) research findings. “Each election year, the NCCE conducts research to identify issues that are important to voters and promote issue-based political campaigns,” Ms. Ankrah explained. The MoC research findings guide the discussions in parliamentary debates across the country, focusing on the top six voter priority issues identified for 2024.

The event was chaired by Nana Asamoah Doudou I, Awukugua Tufohene and IPDC Chairman, and moderated by Rev. Willington Vigbedor and Rev. Theophilus Buadee of the Church of Pentecost, Asenema. NCCE Eastern Region officials, including Deputy Regional Director Mr. Augustine Bosrotsi and Okere District Director Mr. Godfried Alexander Bonney, were also in attendance.

This debate and the broader efforts by the NCCE underscore a commitment to strengthening democratic engagement and ensuring an informed electorate in Ghana’s upcoming elections.

Source: modernghana