With just 24 days left until the 2024 general elections, the National Commission for Civic Education in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Central Region called for inter-party dialogue between the 3 parliamentary candidate aspirants in KEEA, Hon. Samuel Atta Mills (sitting MP, NDC), Hon. Dennis Percy Val Quaicoe (NPP parliamentary aspirant), and Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Duku (PPP parliamentary aspirant).
The NCCE instituted the parliamentary candidate dialogue as a platform for interactions at the constituency level, which is to be done in 275 constituencies in the country for the 2024 general elections.It is also a platform for all the candidates and their supporters from different political parties to interact.
The dialogue is an avenue for all parliamentary candidates to articulate their visions and policies and engage with constituents to offer the electorates/voters the opportunity to hear from all the candidates and their response to issues as well as their plans for the constituency.
During the dialogue, the aspirants were asked questions on health, employment, education, economy, agriculture, roads, and infrastructure.
Hon. Percy Val Quaicoe, when asked about health issues in KEEA, said, "It is the duty of the government and the ministry of health to see to the health care of the constituents because the hospitals belong to the state. It is only the ministry and government that can upgrade Elmina Polyclinic." Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Duku, on the other hand, said, "We will invite NGOs, surgeons, and specialists to occasionally get the constituents screened for free while waiting for the government to intervene. He disclosed the intentions of Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom to build a hospital for KEEA constituents.
On education, Percy Val emphatically said the basic education at the constituency level is poor, but we will dialogue with the Municipal Director of Education, Circuit Supervisors, Headmasters, and Teachers to know the reason for the poor performance. He will also see to it that extra classes will be intensified, as well as meeting the PTA on the need to encourage digital learning. However, Hon. Emmanuel Duku answered, "Motivation, infrastructure, and the mental health of teachers are the vision of PPP when education is mentioned. There will be free extra classes for the continuing students at the basic level, as well as award schemes for students and teachers.
On employment, Percyval revealed that skill training and apprenticeship are the keys to ending unemployment issues in KEEA. Hon. Kofi Duku reiterated that PPP focuses on skill training despite the creation of jobs by Dr. Nduom.
On roads and infrastructure, Percy Val said, "It is only the central government that can construct roads." Meanwhile, Duku said, "The state, where necessary, can give an individual the authority to construct roads at his or her own peril.
On the economy, Duku reiterated that the government plays a pivotal role in issues of the economy. "We will institute a pension scheme for women." Percy Val, however, said the central government will help with women's empowerment. "It is the duty of the ministry for trade and industry to intervene."
On agriculture, Percy Val indicated that agriculture has become a hand-to-mouth benefit for the farmers, but mechanized farming will change the norm. Meanwhile, Kofi Duku mentioned training of farmers on how to use modern machines in farming.
By: Nana Araba Collins
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