Election2000: Live TV Debate Today

THE Presidential candidates of six of the seven political parties contesting the December 7 general elections will today square up before the international media at an open forum at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The event, which will afford the presidential aspirants a brief opportunity to sensitise the electorate on their policies and programmes through answers to questions posed by a panel of journalists, is the first of its kind in the annals of the country’s history.

The event, themed: “Press, power and politics: Africa,” is being organised by the Freedom Forum, a US-based Foundation dedicated to the promotion of free expression and enhancement of the media, in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). GBC is expected to give live coverage to the 45-minute event.

The Presidential aspirants expected to answer the press roll call and questions include Mr John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Professor George Hagan of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby of the United Ghana Movement, Mr Augustus Obuadum Tanoh of the National Reform Party (NRP) and Mr Daniel Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Vice-President of the Republic and presidential candidate of the Progressive Alliance, which comprises the NDC, EGLE and DPP, is the only candidate in the impending presidential polls who will not take part