Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, the Member of Parliament for Tema East and parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said the proposed 24 Hour Economy of the NDC would be a game changer.
He explained that it would help provide skill training and develop young people in the area to establish their businesses and employ others in the process.
Mr. Odamtten, the only candidate who showed up at a National Commission for Civic Education’s (NCCE) parliamentary candidates’ dialogue platform, applauded the NCCE and its partners for organising the dialogue for candidates to interact with the electorates and educating the electorate on the importance of peace in the country.
He had all the time to himself to engage the constituents as his only contender, Mr. Yohane Amarh Ashitey, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, who doubles as the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, was could not turn up for the dialogue.
With more time available to him, Mr. Odamtten took advantage of the absence of his contender to explain in detail policies and programmes the opposition NDC would implement if it got the nod of the Ghanaian electorate in the December 7, 2024, polls.
The dialogue was organised by the Tema Metropolitan Office of the NCCE in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) and Plan B FM, with support from the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC).
The dialogue, on the theme “Together We can Build Ghana, So Get Involved,” saw the incumbent MP sharing his policies and those of the NDC with the constituents.
Mr. Odamtten said electoral violence brings about misunderstanding among families and friends, which tends to destroy properties and lives, and therefore pleaded with the electorate to maintain the peace and unity that existed within the constituency.
He again addressed the six key issues from the findings of the NCCE research and started that the NDC, when voted for, would improve education by providing access to quality education with improved infrastructure and teaching aids.
The parliamentary candidate noted that the NDC government would also see to the completion of the Tema Manhean Naval Hospital, adding that the 24-hour economy proposed by the party would be a game changer as it would help provide skill training and develop young people in the area to establish their businesses and employ others in the process.
He therefore called on the constituents to vote based on the policies and visions of the political party for the constituency instead of following money and personal gains.
Madam Gifty Agyeiwaa Badu, the Tema Metro NCCE director, noted that elections were very important in choosing political representatives in a democracy with the people having the political power to govern themselves.
Madam Badu mentioned that Article 1(1) of the 1992 constitution states that, “the sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in a manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution.”
She said the NCCE was established by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and an Act of Parliament to formulate, implement, and oversee programmes intended to inculcate in the citizens of Ghana the awareness of their civic responsibilities and appreciate their rights and obligations.
She said the commission instituted the parliamentary candidates’ dialogue as one of its flagship programme which creates a platform for the candidates seeking to be voted for to represent the constituents in parliament to interact and bring to their attention how they would represent their interests in parliament.
“These dialogues where candidates express their visions and policies give the electorates the opportunity to make informed choices and decisions during the elections,” she added.
She noted that the commission has also visited the senior high schools within the metropolis and some groups to educate them on the need to vote and how to vote as first-timers and urged them to be an agent that promotes peace in the metropolis.
Reverend Francis Tetteh Guggisberg, the Tema Metro IPDC chairman, said the committee was mandated to ensure peace existed before, during, and after the elections.
Reverend Guggisberg stated that the committee was poised to achieve its mandate and has therefore launched its peace campaign in the senior high and technical schools within the Tema metropolis.
He noted that peace is expensive; therefore, it is the duty of every Ghanaian to do everything within their capacity to maintain the peace that already exists.
He said: “Money, properties, and other material aids cannot restore peace once it is broken, and some African countries have no peace due to political violence and other issues; therefore, it is incumbent upon every Ghanaian to guard and protect the peace that exists.”
He urged political parties, supporters, and the candidates in the constituency to do what they could to maintain peace.
The IPDC chairman further called on the media to practice responsible journalism and be mindful of the information they publicise, while appealing to the public to be mindful of what they say, be responsible citizens, and critically analyse any information before acting.
