Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh, the founder of think tank, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has disclosed that principal candidates from the various political parties will lock horns on Monday, October 26, 2020, to defend the policies mapped out in their manifestos in full glare of a professional panel.
According to him, the event will provide the political candidates a second chance in providing alternatives and also expound their policies to help voters make their decision come the December elections.
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh, speaking in an interview, noted that, traders from the Makola market and spare parts dealers from Abossey-Okai are to be expected at the meeting.
In his view, these everyday persons have a more in-depth understanding of issues like economics better than most people.
“So not only will you hear from doctors, pharmacists and lawyers but you will also hear from traders, fishermen, farmers and spare parts dealers”.
He further indicated that, over thirty professional groups will be present to help in the discussion.
With this, quite a significant number of persons will be given the opportunity to pose questions to cover all aspects of society to help the electorates to make informed decisions during the general elections.
“We have the Trade Union Congress, we have the Ghana Medical Association, Ghana National Association of Teachers, Ghana Bar Association etc”.
The panel will be made up of Dr. Amanda Coffie, a Research Fellow at LECIA, University of Ghana, Shamima Muslim CEO/Founder of Alliance for Women in Media Africa and Dr. Lord Mawuko-Yevugah, Head of the Department of Public Management and International Relations at GIMPA.
Also, in attendance will be the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama who will present his manifesto policies and answer questions from the panel.
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh maintains that, the Centre for Social Justice aims to create a platform for all people and groups in society to take part in the discussion.
The event which is dubbed the “Professionals Dialogue with John Dramani Mahama”, will see an independent panel grilling the candidate on the NDC’s policy proposals going into the 2020 general election.
Former President Mahama will field questions from the panel on the economy, health, agriculture, education and employment from panel members as well as the audience.
According to Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Lead Founder of the CSJ, in the absence of a Presidential debate, there is the need to create platforms where those seeking the mandate of the people, subject themselves to critical analysis of their party manifestos and political record.
The CSJ is a think tank and platform for academics, activists and patriots aiming for greater social inclusion in the distribution of the wealth, privileges, and opportunities of society.
