CDD organises debate for parliamentary candidates

THE Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) will be organising a debate for 30 parliamentary aspirants nationwide.
The debate, which begins from November 15 to December 1, 2008, is targeted at constituencies with independent candidates, women candidates, those prone to conflict, and in those with persons with disabilities as well as those which are perceived as traditional strongholds of particular parties.
The constituencies include Tema West, Odododiodioo, Abokobi-Madina, Wa Central, Navrongo Central, Zebilla, Bunkpurugu Yunyoo, Offinso North, Ketu North and Cape Coast.
The Director of Public Affairs of the CDD, Mr Theodore Dzeble, told the Daily Graphic that, among other things, the objective of the debate was to provide a platform for the candidates to interact with the electorate to make informed choices, build democracy at the grass roots level, and also bring the issue of disability to the forefront of national politics.
“It is also aimed at promoting an issue-based campaign in those constituencies,” he added.
He said the CDD was limiting the debate to only 30 constituencies due to financial constraints.
Mr Dzeble said the CDD organised a similar debate prior to the 2004 polls, and that what was being organised this year was a build up to the previous exercise.
He said the CDD had earlier organised preparatory workshops for the aspiring parliamentarians to prepare them adequately for the debate.
He expressed optimism that the debate would prepare the aspirants to appreciate the issues confronting the constituents better, based on which the victor after the December 7 polls would be adequately informed to address the concerns of the constituents.
In a related development, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has created a platform in Accra that would allow parliamentary aspirants to interact with their constituents with a view to having knowing their concerns at first hand.