UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Raymond wegwi
Political Parties Dialogue dubbed ‘ Democracy 360 for sustaining inclusive civic engagement to track party manifestoes beyond elections’ has been organized for the the three Parliamentary Candidates for Bolgatanga Central Constituency in the Upper East Region, sponsored by Star Ghana Foundation with funding from Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and implemented by RISE-GHANA in partnership with National Commission For Civic Education NCCE, and in attendance were also CSOs, the Upper East Regional Chief Imam , traditional authorities, People With Disabilities PWDs, Market women ,cando drivers, students from Senior High Schools and the political parties’ executives, supporters and the general public. In his welcome address, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of NCCE, Mr Omar Jafar Al-Sadiq, said the Commission was highly elated for the Parliamentary Candidates Dialogue, coming to live in Bolgatanga Central, owing to effective collaboration received from RISE -Ghana, which is a civil society organization operating in Bolgatanga Municipality and also grateful to all the stakeholders who turned out massively to give their support to the engagement with the PCs in Constituency. According to him, as part of their citizens engagements for peaceful general assembly process towards 2024 general elections, and beyond, the commission seeks to use the opportunity to admonish political party activists to conduct their campaigns with decrom for peace, before, during and after the election 2024. He stated that Parliamentary Candidates Dialogue program of the commission started since 2004, which is convened after launching of a research titled ‘Matters of Concern(MoC), to the Ghanaian voters , to enhance issue -based political campaigns and voter education and for this year the findings reported that ,18.3% of the voters wants improved Education, Employment 15.7%, Health 12.5%, Roads and Infrastructure 10.0% follow by Economy 7.2% and Agriculture 6.9% . Therefore the purpose of the the Dialogue includes; providing a platform for the candidates to share their vision for the Constituency, soliciting their commitment to non-violence and issue -based campaign and to ensure tolerance and peace, before, during and after the 2024 general elections in the Country.
The executive director of RISE-GHANA, the implementing agency, Alhajj Awal Ahmed Kariamah, cited the Afrobarometer’s report that says only 13% of the electorates thinks and feels that their views are heard and acted upon by their elected representatives (MPS) and about 35% of the local officers (Assembly persons) listen to them and represent their views in the assemblies which he described as quite serious because, we have a very strong local governance system in Ghana which allows the citizens to make inputs during planning and budgeting, even in parliament. He underscored the importance of the social contract between the electorates and the political parties in their manifestoes and asked that, any political party that used compelling reasons to win their votes to always honor their promises and also urged the electorates to demand accountability from them, not to vote and go back to sleep till another cycle of voting year, when they will come around again for their votes. According to him, that is the more reason why they brought the Democracy 360 dialogue, to ensure that, the voices of first time voters, underrepresented groups, PWDS, the minority group etc voices, views and concerns will be part to shape the policies and manifestoes of the political parties, adding that whoever that will be voted for, as president or MP, should know that they are president or MP for all, and that is why RISE-GHANA in partnership with NCCE ,Star Ghana foundation and Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, are collaborating in this critical time with the political parties to see, how they can increase visibility of citizens in Ghana’s Democratic processes, and accountability of the elected leaders.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Police Commander, DSP Edward Yaw Asante, reminder the participants that, election times are periods of expressing their choices and should never be a reason for divisions, because peace is a foundation of any prosperous nation and they should promote tolerance and respect for each other and opinions as they are part of the society. He assured Ghanaians that, the police is ready to ensure that, their rights are protected, but will need their support too, and urged them to follow the rules and remain calm and respect the process for peaceful election. He advised that after the election wether their preferred candidate wins or lose, to remember their unity as people is more important than an individual or political outcome, adding that elections will come and go and they must live together beyond elections.
The Parliamentary Candidates keenly vying for Bolgatanga Constituency seat, who took part in the political dialogue were Hon. Isaac Adongo, the incumbent, of National Democratic Congress, NDC, Hon. Elvis Atia Awonekai Figo of the New Patriotic Party, NPP and Hon. Peter Akunlebe for People National Convention,PNC shared their parties’ policies in education, poverty alleviation, health improvement, infrastructure development, Agriculture amongst others very well to the gathering,followed by questions and answers sessions from the CSOs, students and the audience ,and all the PCs who were very grateful for the opportunity,answered them eloquently to the admirations of their supporters amidst with cheers and praises after which, all of them pledged their unflinching commitment to peaceful election and assured them to account for their stewardship when voted to power to represent them.
The Upper East Regional director of NCCE, Mr Ayaala Abdulai admonished all of them especially the students who are up to 18 years to go and vote without violence for peace before, during and after the 7th December general elections and expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders for the successful dialogue.
Source – gbcuraonline.com
