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By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, August 1, GNA – Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu,
the first vice-speaker of Parliament launched the Ghana Center for
Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana): Report on the Election Procedure
2016: Promoting debate on policy issues at constituency level ".
We would remember that before 2016
General Elections, CDD-Ghana, with the support of the Open Society Initiative for
West Africa (OSIWA), has embarked on a project entitled: "Promoting Policy-Issue
constituency level debate. "
The platforms of debate, which were held across
43 constituencies selected from across the country, were part of the
efforts to promote an issue-based election campaign and to ensure interaction
between aspirants and potential voters.
These debates helped streamline
the campaign messages in the 2016 elections focus on important political issues
that have impacted the lives of your constituents, particularly vulnerable and
marginalized groups.
In addition, he offered candidates
opportunity to interact and share their vision and programs with
voters.
The democratic achievements of Ghana since 1992
have drawn praise from national and international authorities
community, particularly in the context of the electoral performance of other
African countries.
The objective of the project was to
increase the participation of citizens, especially marginalized groups, in elections
process and to promote accountability and responsiveness after the elections
between citizens and elected officials between elections.
The report pointed out that the 2016 election
was generally credible and peaceful by election observers.
Election Observation of the African Union
The mission report on the elections highlighted an important element
distinguished the last election from the previous ones as the
presidential and parliamentary campaigns focused on policies.
candidates.
The CDD-Ghana project report was being prepared.
released, for two important reasons; first, some members of Parliament
(MPs), who participated in debate platforms were currently preparing to go
through the primaries of their political parties for the 2020 legislative elections.
It would be appropriate for them to have
access to the campaign promises that contributed to their success for them to
think about how they were formed and what is remarkable.
Second, for the voters, the general public
and the media, to use information from these platforms to demand accountability
of our elected representatives in the 2020 general election.
Mr. Osei-Owusu said that there was a disconnect
between what voters expected from their MPs and the responsibilities of the law
gives to the deputies.
He said that the problem could somehow be solved
when District, Metropolitan, Municipal and District (MMDCE) Chiefs were
elected officials, hence the need for open discussion in this regard.
Mr. Osei-Owusu recalled that during the
CDD-Ghana, it was observed that 99% of all problems were solved.
The debates during the debates focused on the responsibility of the executive.
"This raises the question of which voters
stand in line to vote for us as MPs, "he added.
Dr. Franklin Oduro, Deputy Director
Director / Director of CSD-Ghana Programs, stressed the need for
Stakeholders to intensify the campaign on the roles of MPs.
He said the project was an opportunity
candidates at the constituency level, to present their messages to the
public and for the public to ask questions as well.
Dr. Oduro stated that the Center had launched the
project in 2004 as a pilot program to badist the electoral campaign
focus more on the political issues that have impacted the lives of marginalized people.
groups until 2012, when they introduced post-election responsibility.
Mr Mathias Hounkpe, political governance
Program Manager at OSIWA, who said he believed in voter turnout
responsibility, added that it was important that voters know what they were.
vote for.
He also warned candidates about promises
during their campaigns, saying, it was important for them to notice that they
could keep their promises.
Mr Hounkpe said that the initiative being
launched, is part of the mechanism that could maintain the confidence of citizens
in elections; confidence in democracy as a whole.
GNA
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