The debate, which was organized in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), allowed the two major political party candidates, Mr. Simon Kweku Tetteh of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the incumbent, Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to outline their development plans for the constituency.
Though the incumbent MP did not participate in the debate, the moderators mentioned and questioned education, roads, health, and employment topics. Mr. Simon Kweku Tetteh of the NPP, outlining his vision for the constituency, stated that in terms of education, he had built dormitories, classroom blocks, and education offices and that if elected, he would establish a brilliant but needy scholarship support scheme in the area, as well as an award scheme for teachers and education units, and ensure an annual distribution of desks to schools.
Regarding health, the candidate stated that he would assist in transforming the Atua and Akuse government hospitals into state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the provision of healthcare in the area, support nursing students and the yearly renewal of the health insurance program, offer free health screenings every year, and construct a hostel to house caregivers
The contender stated that he would work with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to tar the majority of the roads in the municipality and employ DRIP equipment to enhance the feeder roads in the constituency.
On employment, the aspirant stated that he would seek out jobs for graduates in government and private agencies, as well as support those who want to pursue apprenticeship programs such as welding, mechanics, and hairdressing, among others, and that after graduation, he would provide them with startup funds and tools.
Mr. Tetteh clarified that in order to draw in the local young, he would promote mechanised farming in the area and increase farming’s profitability.
He continued by saying that he would promote young people interested in raising fish, poultry, and livestock to lessen poverty in the area.
He promised that if elected, he would fulfil his mandate and promised to maintain peace before, during, and after the December elections.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Livingstone Ansah, the National Commission for Civic Education’s Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Director, stated that the purpose of the debate was to give the parliamentary candidates a chance to discuss their plans for the constituency over the next four years and to find out what the needs and concerns of their constituents were.
As Ghanaians prepared for the impending elections, he urged them to be politically and religiously tolerant. “Everyone had a duty to defend the country’s democracy and constitution in order to promote progress and development,” he said
The director expressed dissatisfaction with the current member of parliament for the NDC for failing to appear. He advised all candidates to run their campaigns without using derogatory language or calling names, and he appealed for peace before, during, and after the December elections.