CDD-Ghana organizes Parliamentary debate for candidate in Ablekuma West

The Centre for Democratic Development in collaboration with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers on Friday organized a Parliamentary debate for aspiring candidates in the Ablekuma West Constituency in Accra. Mr Theodore Dzeble, Public Affairs Officer CDD-Ghana, said the debate was to afford the parliamentary aspirants to make known and interact with their constituents on plans and policies ahead of the December polls. The contestants included Miss Victoria Hamah, from the National Democratic Congress, Ms Ursula Owusu, New Patriotic Party, Mr Daniel Nii Noi Osikai of People's National Convention and Magnus Asiamah Bekoe of the National Democratic Party. The programme was supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. Mr Dzeble said the debate would contribute to the democratic development of the society where viable contestants would be subjected to questions from moderators and the constituents to see the viability of their policies for the area.He said CDD-Ghana had organized similar debate in Adenta, Odododiodio, Tema West and Central Constituency which focused on thematic areas such as governance, health, education, employment disability and the economy. Ms Hamah said on employment, the NDC government as part of its manifesto hopes to tackle unemployment through its Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund (JEDF) and would ensure that the people of the Ablekuma West benefited from the initiative. "As a Woman activist, am committed to raising the social and economic status of Women through increased access to Medium and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) facilities" she added. She promised to set up a centre for persons with disability to improve their skills through the support from the Member of Parliament Common Fund. Ms Owusu said when voted into power she will provide access to Quality education by lobbying for the improvement in educational infrastructure in the constituency, ensure better teaching and learning aids, provide scholarships for brilliant but needy children and training programmes for dedicated teachers. She promise to organize regular community health screening for diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and eye problems and facilitate public education on health related issues in collaboration with health professionals. "Would institute regular interaction with constituents through quarterly or biannual electoral forums and establish legal education and literacy forum to assist constituents resolve minor legal issues. Mr Bekoe also expressed the hope to organize workshop for persons with disability in the country and to create awareness of the plight of their condition. He said would improve the sanitation problem in the constituency through regular de-silting of drains when voted to lead the constituency. Mr Osikai promised to decentralized medical delivery in the constituency and help in the construction of new hospitals and clinic for improved health services since the area can only boast of one hospital.

GNA