Civil society organisation, Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has launched a programme named ‘manifesto development project.’

The programme is aimed at asserting their authority as a research-led organisation and also to help in designing responsible manifestoes by political parties.

The programme according to CDD-Ghana is also geared towards “Promoting Responsive and Responsible Manifestos for Inclusive Development.”

The programme is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).

Announcing the launch of the project, Prof. Kwasi Prempeh who is the Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, said they are not attempting to force manifestoes on political parties.

“We are merely providing a stage and opportunity for citizens to engage and let the main issues that they believe are critical to the development of this country come to the fore for the political parties to craft their own prescriptions to these problems, issues and concerns,” he said.

Prof. Prempeh explained that manifestoes are a social contract in which the politicians and the voter must communicate with each other even before the parties come into power.

“As an organisation committed to the promotion and deepening of the country’s democracy, good governance and inclusive development, CDD-Ghana’s role in this project is to serve largely as a transmission belt,” he added.

He also encouraged Ghanaians to take critical interest in the manifestoes of political parties and ensure they contain issues that are very pertinent and reflect the real developmental needs of the citizens.