Sunyani holds forum for parliamentary candidates

Sunyani, Nov. 29, GNA - Mr Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Sunyani East, has suggested that traditional authorities and associations be allowed to select people to serve in district assemblies instead of government appointing them. Government appoints people to serve in district assemblies as "government appointees."

He made the suggestion at a forum organized by 6TH March Women's Foundation, a Sunyani-based NGO for Sunyani East and Sunyani West parliamentary candidates and stakeholders in Sunyani. The programme under the theme; "Improving Local Governance for Development", was aimed at giving the electorate the opportunity to interact with the candidates.

Mr Cheremeh said the "government appointee system" should be abolished for the people to select persons of their choice to represent them in the assembly.

He said he would increase women's participation at both local and national political levels so that they could contribute their quota to development.

Mr Francis Adjei, National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Sunyani East, said assembly members would receive salaries if the party were voted into power to encourage them to work effectively to bring development to their communities.

He said assembly members were not performing to expectation "because they are not given any remuneration to boost their morale". The Convention People's Party, Democratic Peoples Party and People's National Convention Parliamentary candidates said the peace in the country had contributed to national development and appealed to the public to help to maintain the peace.

They said the "election is not war" but a process that every country went through to elect leaders to manage the affairs of the country.

The candidates urged the electorate not to regard political opponents as enemies but to live together in unity as one people. Madam Elizabeth Frimpong, the Executive Director of the Foundation, expressed regret that women's participation in the decision-making process was not encouraging even though women formed the majority. She said the empowerment of women was part of good governance and urged the candidates to address the concerns of women. 29 Nov 08

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