Cape Coast North parliamentary candidates grilled

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-GHANA) on Wednesday organized a debate for parliamentary candidates in the Cape Coast North constituency. The debate was organized by National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) and was held at the Pedu St Peter’s Seminary.

It was attended by Mrs. Sarah Bucknor, the candidate for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and Dr. Mrs. Henrietta Abane for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Ebo Barton-Oduro, the MP who is seeking re-election, was absent. A cross-section of the public and students from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Dump were present.

Mr. Ebenezer Aggrey, Assistance Registrar of the University of Cape Coast, Mr. David Acheampong, the Central Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers and Mr. Kofi Ampa-Korsah, the Regional Officer for Teachers and Educational Workers Union moderated.

They asked questions on education, health, the disability law and its compliance, peace and security and corruption. The aspirants gave their answers in Fanti to enable all present to understand.

On education, Mrs. Bucknor said when given the nod she would make sure school children who are not part of the school feeding programme got the chance to enjoy it.

She said land would be acquired to produce foodstuff to be used for the school feeding programme.

Mrs Bucknor said modern kitchens would be built for the beneficiary schools and that qualified and competent caterers would be employed to cook good and healthy food for the children.

When asked about plans for the disabled, she said she would help them get jobs and would educate the public not to discriminate against people with disability. On the provision of good health, Mrs. Bucknor said she would provide mobile clinics in communities that do not have health centres so that the people, especially pregnant women, would not have to walk long distance to attend hospitals.

Dr. Mrs. Abane said when given the nod, she would stop the pre-financing of the school feeding programme by caterers and would encourage the government to provide resources that would make the programme sustainable and extended to all schools in the country.

On the disabled in society, Dr. Mrs. Abane said, she would protect them and also educate the society on the need to treat them well especially when it comes to jobs.

She said she would provide workshops for them and take their plight to parliament so that they could be helped and also draw the attention of architects to put in place structures that they could easily access , especially those using wheelchairs and those who are blind.

On health Dr. Mrs. Abane said she would send proposals to the government to provide hospitals with equipment that would make health care more accessible and affordable and that pregnant women would be given adequate education on the need to visit the hospitals for check-ups.

When asked if they would declare their assets when given the nod, the two candidates said there was the need for all Ghanaians to know the assets of politicians.

After the debate, the two candidates took turns to advise the electorates to comport themselves in the December polls to ensure a peaceful election in the country.