The National Commission for Civic Education(NCCE) has organized a dialogue for parliamentary aspirants in the La Dade-Kotopon Constituency of the Greater Accra Region to enable them make bare their programmes and policies to the constituents.
The dialogue organized in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee and Latenu FM, allowed Vincent Odotei Sowah and David Annerty both Independent Candidates to outline their developmental plans and agenda.
Though the candidates from the two main dominant parties boycotted the event, the issues which were raised and asked by the moderator cut across education, health, employment and infrastructure.
In his welcome address, the La Dade-Kotopon NCCE Municipal Director, Emmanuel Mettle said the dialogue was aimed at giving the candidates the opportunity to articulate their plans for the constituency and also respond to the concerns of the constituents.
He urged the constituents to be tolerant both politically and religiously as they geared towards the polls.
Mr Mettle added that it was the responsibility of all to jealously protect the gains made in the democratic experiment.
Mr Odotei, a one time Member of Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) who is currently running as an Independent candidate said he would implement an annual awards scheme for teachers.
He also pledged to ensure an annual distribution of desks and text books to both Senior and Junior High Schools in the Municipality.
Not all, he also indicated his preparedness to leverage on his experience gained to establish a scholarship scheme for teachers who had the desire to teach the Ga Language in the Municipality.
On health, Mr. Odotei pledged the constituents to facilitate the completion of the La General Hospital which is currently under construction and also help the aged to renew their NHIS through his share of resources which are provided to Members of Parliament.
In tackling unemployment, the aspirant indicated that he will use his lobbying skills to facilitate the recruitment of the youth whose sole desire was to to be enlisted in the security services.
He pledged to use his share of the Common Fund to train the youth in vocational skills of their choice as well as equipping them with entrepreneurial skills.
These he said will reduce the high unemployment rate amongst the youth in the constituency.
Agriculture which he said was his priority will be enhanced. This he said will be achieved by supporting the peasant farmers in the constituency with agricultural inputs to enable them expand their agricultural activities.
David Annerty also an Independent candidate acknowledged the sharp decline in student performance in the constituency and pledged to allocate a part of the MPs Common Fund to support extra classes for students, particularly for students in the Government funded schools.
He also proposed an annual award scheme to motivate teaches to give off their best in the classroom.
On improving healthcare in the constituency, Mr Annerty pledged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to help with the completion of the La General Hospital.
On employment, the aspirant stated that if elected, he will collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations to equip the youth with vocational skills to enable them establish their individual businesses.
Mr Annerty also made a promise to facilitate the acquisition of soft loans to help those in the Agricultural sector in the Municipality to boast their trade.
Present at the event were Miyemliniaba Nii Adjei Asua Owen II who chairs the Inter Party Dialogue Committee and also a representative from the La Traditional Council, Mr. Kenneth Ahinakwa and the Secretary of the Local Council of Churches in La.
The others were Sheikh Abdul Rashid Odoi Atsem, the Chief Iman for the Muslim Community in the Municipality and who moderated the dialogue, ASP Samuel Obiri from the La Police Command, Inter Party Dialogue Committee Members, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Identifiable Groups, Youth and Women Groups, Media and the Constituents.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Gloria Amarkie Kudo, the NCCE Deputy Greater Accra Regional Director, expressed delight with the participants and urged all the other aspirants to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults and name-calling.
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