Cape Coast, Nov. 26, GNA - Four of the five parliamentary candidates in the Cape Coast constituency, on Monday promised the electorate that they would lobby for the passage of the disability bill to protect the rights of the disabled, if they are elected.
The four are, Messrs Ato Amponsah Dadzie of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joel Eshun of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Emmanuel Kweku Sagoe, of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and Ato Nyanor, an Independent candidate.
They made the promise at a debate organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of the Disabled. Under the theme, "Promoting Issue-Based Campaign", it was among others, to provide an interactive platform for the candidates to focus on issues relevant to the needs of their constituents, and to enable the electorate to make informed choices.
The debate which was in two sessions saw each of the candidates telling the electorate about the intentions for the socio-economic development of the constituency. For his part, the NPP candidate, Mr Amponsah Dadzie, said he would ensure that the disabled were represented in all the municipal and district assemblies, so that they would not be left out of decision making, and the implementation of development projects. He further pledged that he would give monthly support to the disabled with part of his share of the common fund and from taxes received by the Cape Coast metropolitan assembly.
Mr Eshun of the DFP said he would create incentives for companies which employ the disabled, as well as help them secure loans from banks to start their own businesses.
Mr Sagoe of the CPP, reiterated his party's concern for the disabled and said it was in view of this that it had produced its manifesto in Braille for the visually impaired, adding that, he would also facilitate the creation of a youth centre for the disabled.
When it came to his turn, the independent candidate, Mr Nyanor said that when he is elected, he would sell his car and use the proceeds to set up a fund for the creation of jobs for the disabled in the constituency.
Speaking on how they would deepen local governance and decentralization, the CPP candidate, was unhappy that assembly and unit committee members were not properly resourced to discharge their duties effectively, and pledged to ensure that all the necessary structures were put in place to reverse the situation.
The Independent candidate echoed the CPP candidate's concern, as well as calls for the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, while Mr Amponsah- Dadzie of the NPP called for the creation of more districts, to enhance access to the assemblies.
Mr Eshun of the DFP also promised to ensure that assembly and unit committee members are paid salaries rather than allowances to motivate them to work effectively.
On the empowerment of women, all four aspirants agreed on the need to empower women in the constituency to take active part in local and national issues, and pledged to support women in this direction.
With regard to peace before, during and after the election, the DFP and the independent candidates both agreed that peace was very important, but stressed that it was also necessary to ensure the fair administration of justice.
Mr Sagoe repeated calls to educate the people that the election was about issues, and "not a do or die affair", and cited the recent presidential debate in Tamale, where the presidential candidates were seen holding hands as a symbol of peace.
The parliamentary aspirants, also expressed their view on issues like assets declaration, which they stressed was necessary to help curb corruption, and the Right to Information Bill, which they also promised to ensure its passage. They also promised to find "any means available" to have the Fosu lagoon dredged, since the livelihood of many residents depended on it. At the end of the debate, all the candidates made a declaration to ensure peace before, during and after the elections.
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