NDC has a superior vision - Amissah Arthur

Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Monday exuded confidence and was poised to explain the vision of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) at running mates’ debate to be held Takoradi on Tuesday.

He said the NDC had superior vision to the other parties, and he was very ready to explain the vision to Ghanaians.

The Ghana Institute of Economic Affairs, having organized an earlier one for the presidential candidates in Tamale, is organising another one for the vice presidential candidates for the parties with representation in Parliament.

The contestants are Vice President Amissah-Arthur, for the NDC; Madam Cherita Sarpong Kumankuma, for the Convention People’s Party (CPP); Madam Helen Sanorita Dzatugbe Matrevi, for the People’s National Convention; and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The debate comes off between 18:30 and 10:00 hours at the Takoradi Akroma Plaza.

The flagbearers’ and running mates debates are intended to deepen multi-party democracy and promote issue-based elections in Ghana.

Tuesday’s encounter would provide an opportunity for the running mates to deal wittingly with issues of socio-economic importance and good governance as did their flagbeaerers.

It would offer the electorate an opportunity to assess the new faces on the political block and judge their suitability, especially the female running mates.

Vice President Amissah–Arthur told journalists in Accra, prior to leaving for Takoradi that despite being the first sitting Vice President to take part in the debate, the occasion would offer him the opportunity to explain ongoing programmes to Ghanaians.

He noted that all the other parties had ever been in power with records, but he as Vice President had more experience in administration than the other running mates and would use his experience to offer greater insights into issues that would be raised at the encounter.

The Vice President was the Governor of the Bank of Ghana before his selection as Vice President in August, while Dr Bawumia was a deputy Governor at the same institution before his selection to partner Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the NPP flagbearer in 2008, and retained again for the December 2012 polls.

The other two contestants, PNC’s Helen Matervi, 43, was a teaching assistant at the University of Cape Coast.

The CPP running mate, is a child’s rights advocate, and until recently was a traditional ruler in Dormaa in the Brong Ahafo Region.