Cape Coast parliamentary candidates outline visions

Parliamentary candidates of the various political parties vying for the Cape Coast Constituency seat, except the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have outlined their respective visions for the ancient city, should they get the mandate.

The NDC candidate was absent, but did not assign any reason for his failure to attend. The organisers as well, could not inform the public as to why he was not there, and kept hoping that he would join the debate in due course.

At the parliamentary candidates' debate, organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in Cape Coast on Monday, the aspiring parliamentarians took some residents through the various policies they would put in place to improve education, governance, the economy, peace and security during elections, as well as gender and other issues concerning the constituency.

First to take the floor was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Ato Olenu Amponsah-Dadzie, who promised to establish a Member of Parliament (MP) office in Cape Coast, and make it accessible to every resident, for their concerns to be heard.

He stated that he meant business as an aspiring MP, and promised to do his best to develop the area, and ensure that residents benefited from the policies of the NPP.

He also promised to establish a special common fund for the disabled, and pay them every month, through the assembly to rid them off the streets.

Joel Eshun, 24, the youngest of the candidates, who is vying on the ticket of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), promised to give the opportunity for residents to have a say in critical decisions taken in parliament, and institute training programmes for the disabled, to help them cater for themselves.

The Convention People's Party (CPP) candidate, Kweku Sagoe, promised to set up a youth activity center within his first 100 days in office as MP, and employ counsellors who would counsel the youth in the area, to enable them make informed decisions with regards to their career choices.

The independent candidate in the race, Ato Aidoo-Nyanor, also promised to promote health, enhance job creation and sanitation, to promote tourism in the area.

He also pledged to push for the establishment of policies to resource traditional rulers to enable them embark on development projects in their localities, and again establish an endowment fund for needy but brilliant students in the constituency.

Aidoo-Nyanor said he would add value to the abundant raw materials in the region, by revamping most collapsed factories to process them, as well as institute a ready market for local farmers in the area, to prevent their produce from going waste.

The CDD is expected to hold similar debates, in 30 selected constituencies in the country, as part of efforts to entrench democracy at the constituency level, to help voters make the right choice, based on their own assessment of the candidates and their programs.