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01.12.2004 Politics

Techiman North Parliamentary Candidates hold debate

01.12.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Krobo, (B/A) Dec. 1, GNA - The Techiman Civic Union in collaboration with the Government Accountability Improves Trust (GAIT) of the Cooperative League of the United States of America (CLUSA) have organised a second parliamentary debate in the Techiman Municipality for candidates in the Techiman North Constituency at Krobo.

They were Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kofi Kwao Sarpong, alias Mandela, Independent and Mr Alex Kyeremeh, National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The objectives of the debate, among other things were to enable the electorate to make an informed choice on Election Day as well as to promote popular participation in the governance process.

The questions for the candidates centred on their representation in Parliament, uplifting of the low level of education in the area, addressing the situation of unemployment among the youth, expansion of health facilities in the Constituency, provision of good drinking water, good roads and electricity and bringing investors to the area.

All the candidates pledged to make judicious use of the Member of Parliament's share of District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) by acting in consultations with assembly members, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to know their priorities to enable them to use the funds for the benefit of the communities.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, the Minister of Ports, Harbour and Railways, said if voted to Parliament he would encouraged parents to motivate teachers to cooperate with them to give of their best.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi explained that since clinics were few in the Constituency, he would help in the expansion of existing small ones, which would encourage the youth from the area, who have qualification to take up nursing studies and to motivate them to stay and work in the area to support the Holy Family and the Ahmadiyya Hospitals.

Mr Sarpong indicated that he would help to create good foundation at basic level of education by motivating teachers to improve education in the Constituency.

He stated that he would encourage young men and women to take up carpentry, fitting, welding among other vocations through the formation of cooperatives to be assisted with funds for the procurement of tools to enhance their living standards.

Mr Kyeremeh said he would help with school infrastructure through his share of DACF and Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) and also reduce the celebration of teachers' day to the circuit level to motivate circuit officers for effective supervision.

Mr Kyeremeh promised to establish credit union for farmers to help them receive loans to expand farms and put their activities on the Internet for easy marketing.

He said when voted to power he would help students in the Constituency to take up the study of information technology through the establishment of a vocational institution for school dropouts.

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