2024 Elections: NCCE holds parliamentary debate for 3 candidates in Offinso North amid tensed atmosphere

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)'s office in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region held a forum for dialogue among three candidates representing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and People's National Convention (PNC) contesting for the Offinso North seat in the 2024 general elections.

The forum was meant to afford candidates an opportunity to clearly articulate their programs and policies, address key developmental concerns by constituents for informed voting decisions during the polls.

The Offinso North District Director of NCCE, Alice Okwae Agyekum, who spearheaded the program, supported by the clergy and Nananom, urged political party supporters and electorates present to avoid violent acts, use of intemperate language in their campaign activities, and take advantage of the dialogue to decide wisely during voting.

The forum, well attended by officials from the EC, faith groups, students, and overwhelming supporters from the two main political parties (NDC and NPP), was also used to advocate for peace before, during, and after the elections.

The forum covered areas in education, health, agriculture, and employment, where candidates took turns to pour out plans and measures to address the critical challenges confronting constituents in the Offinso North.

Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah of the NPP bemoaned students' poor performance in the recent BECE exams, attributing it partly to low literacy rates in the district.

As such, the NPP candidate proposed a community reading clubs initiative dubbed "Read Your Future Aloud" to promote reading and numeracy. "The basic fabric of education is literacy and numeracy," he emphasized.

Again, Dr. Fred Kyei promised to ensure teachers are well-resourced and equipped with requisite necessities to properly put out their best.

The NDC's Ceasar Ofosu Acheampong, on his part, identified poor or lack of attention to basic school infrastructure, especially at the kindergarten level.

In view of this, Hon. Ceasar pledged to ensure adequate classroom blocks are provided for all pupils within the district and maintain his uniform distribution initiative for public school students within the district.

Also, as a motivation for effective teaching and learning, Ceasar Ofosu Acheampong promised to end the accommodation challenge for teachers by building more bungalows, instituting the "MP's Special Teachers Award" scheme, and a yearly scholarship award for best-performing students from the district.

On the part of Hon. Abdul-Nasirudeen of the PNC, employing much effort to upgrade the various Senior High Schools from third- to first- or second-class schools would be his focus when given the mandate.

Dwelling much on the infrastructure, he also lamented the poor state of school buildings across the district, promising to fix all infrastructural lapses and embark on a school fencing project to have all schools fenced as a measure to promote discipline among students.

All three candidates outlined deliberate measures to tackle health challenges in the area, proposing to improve upon infrastructure, logistics, additional facilities, and the road network.

Similarly, agriculture, as the main pillar of the local economy, was looked at, where candidates promised the introduction of mechanized farming practices, support schemes for youth in the business with start-up capital, and provision of equipment for better yields.

Although the exercise ended peacefully and educative, some little skirmishes that unfolded nearly marred the show.

This was occasioned when supporters of the two opposing parties (NDC and NPP) started to giggle and chant when the opposing candidates mounted the podium to present their views and solutions to societal challenges.

But for the swift intervention by the Offinso North District Police Command and the wisdom displayed by the clergymen led by the chairman for the occasion, Rev. Issac Marfo, the confrontations nearly advanced into fisticuffs.

All three parliamentary candidates mounted the stage once more and declared their commitment to peace throughout the electioneering period, thereby calming down nerves.

The outcome of the intellectual exercise in Akumadan clearly spells out the high stakes in the Offinso North parliamentary battle.