Foundation calls on parties to make manifestos available

Accra, May 13, GNA - The Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), a non governmental organisation, has called on political parties contesting this year's election to, as a matter of urgency, make their manifestos available to the public by May 31, 2016.

The YBF also called on civil society organizations, youth groups and all stakeholders to mount pressure on the political parties to produce their manifestos by the said date to give the electorate at least five months to scrutinise the parties' policy blueprint.

A statement signed by Mr Seth Oteng, the Executive Director of YBF, expressed concern that with less than six months to the 2016 election, no political party had issued its manifesto or indicated when it would be released for review and interrogation by the Ghanaian electorate.

'Indeed, we are uncomfortable about this loud silence over party manifestos, particularly at this crucial time on Ghana's political calendar,' he said.

Mr Oteng said: 'We at the Youth Bridge Foundation recognise that the manifesto is the authentic policy blueprint of political parties. Party manifestos provide a useful tool for promoting issues-based campaigns and elections and promote inclusive governance.

'How can the youth, and indeed the wider Ghanaian electorate, make an informed choice at the polls on November 7 when to date the policy plans of the parties are still not available for interrogation and discussion?'the statement asked.

While commending the efforts of some prominent civil society organisations in calling for political party debates and the readiness of the forerunners to engage in the debates, the statement said the debates themselves were woefully inadequate at informing the electorate on the policy positions of the candidates.

'In order to make debates more meaningful and empower the electorate to demand accountability, the debates must be anchored on the manifesto positions of the various candidates. Where debates are held without first putting forward manifestos, the winner is often determined by the sheer eloquence of the candidate and his or her ability to marshal cheer-leaders,' it said.

The statement said the early release of the manifestos would ensure adequate interrogation of the issues on all media platforms, including discussions in the local languages for maximum public education which would shift the focus of campaigns from violence to issues.

It said: 'Youth Bridge Foundation maintains that this is in the best interest of the youth in particular and the Ghanaian electorate in general whose aspirations are hinged on the policy blueprints of the various political parties seeking to govern.'

GNA