It is just some few minutes to the much anticipated IEA Presidential debate between four presidential candidates - President John Mahama, New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo, Peoples National Convention flagbearer Hassan Ayariga and the Convention Peoples Party's Dr Abu Sakara. Already Tamale is politically charged with supporters of the various parties bedecking the entire region and particularly the venue of the debate with party paraphernalia. Organisers say attendance is strictly by invitation. Police say the venue will be cordoned off but listeners and viewers world wide will have no problems at all because the debate is live on Joy FM, MultiTV and streaming live on www.myjoyonline.com Joy FM will also assemble the best political team to analyse issues relating to the debate, before, during and after the debate. The debate will be moderated by Joy FM’s Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang. Already, Seth Kwame Boateng reports of the influx of political party leaders into the Radech Hotel, venue for the debate. The excitement is high and the adrenalin getting to the fever pitch already 1830 All Presidential candidates have arrived at the venue of the debate. 1905 Candidates have been ushered into the podiums as they take positions behind their respective pulpits. 1907 The National Anthem is on. 1908 A word of prayer 1910 Administrator of IEA Jeane Mensah sets out the mission of the debate. She describes it as historic because it is the first time a sitting president is taking part in the debate. She hopes it will continue that way. 1917 A member of the Presidential Debate Committee Prof Addae Mensah welcomes candidates, party heads, listeners and viewers with an address. 1924 The rules of the debate are being spelt out. Three rounds of debate; three minutes each to answer a question; three opportunities for a rebuttal for each candidate. At the end of each round each candidate will have three minutes within which to appeal to Ghanaians. No phones must be on. 1927 Prof Jean Naana Opoku Agyeman, one of two moderators gives the opportunity to the candidates to introduce themselves to the public. President John Mahama first; Dr. Abu Sakara second; Hassan Ayariga third; Nana Akufo-Addo 1st Que. Can you explain what your broad vision for the country is? John Mahama believes Ghana must open economic opportunities to all Ghanaians irrespective of gender, ethnicity etc in order for them to realise their full potential. Will continue to invest in education and in health to ensure mothers won't die during deliver. Influence to bring nation together than divide it. Ghana must be the model of democracy and good governance. Dr Abu Sakara Vision for Ghana is a shining example for Africa. Demands that institution work again and that will be my primary focus. When the institutions work Ghana will begin to work again. Natural resources are exploited for Ghanaian interest. I will invest in agriculture and in the private sector to create jobs for the people. Ghana must change the path of focusing on macro economic figures and depend micro issues. Hassan Ayariga A PNC government will make good use of natural resources. Will empower the youth and bring back operation feed yourself and feed the 24 countries without food importation. We will provide water and improve upon health delivery across the country. There must also be a politics of togetherness and share the national cake equally. Want to restore hope and confidence in the people. Nana Addo The vision I pursue is a vision outlined by thriving democracy, a country where the rule of law exists. We need a prosperous nation. We have been a raw material production county. We need to become a country that will transform its economy structurally and add value to the raw materials. The development of human capital will be crucial and that why education is needed and that is why we are committed to free education. To make Ghana that beacon, a shining city which was the vision of those who won independence for Ghana. Que 2 What will you do to make the National Development Planning Commission effective. Abu Sakara The Development Plan must speak to the issue of social justice to respond to the needs of women and vulnerable groups in the society. The plan must prioritise education and ensure other sectors of the economy are balanced. Hassan Ayariga PNC government has a plan. It will first finish all projects began by previous governments. Business men, students will use the long term development plan to inform their choice of careers and decisions. The country must separate political power from economic power. Silos built by Nkrumah and Hilla Liman have been abandoned by subsequent government. That is not good enough. Nana Addo Constitution provides that parties when in power must bring to parliament in two years a development plan. The NPP has that plan. It will not dabble in corruption. His Vice President Mahamamudu Bawumia will lead the National Development Planning Commission. If you establish good practices and the evidence will produce good results subsequent parties will follow. John Mahama There is confusion in the mind of the NPP flagbearer and it reflects in his answer. If you politicize the NDPC you have lost your way. The NDPC must be independent with an overaching framework which political parties must tap into. What we are doing currently is synchronizing the government's policy with that of the NDPC. Rebuttal Nana Addo exercises his first right of rebuttal. He says if there is any confusion, that confusion emanates from the constitution because it provides that parties after winning power must come to Parliament after two years with its development agenda. He says the major problem in Ghana has been the commitment to by political parties to implement its policies. Making the vice president the head of the NDPC will give it the political will and muscle to execute its projects. Ques:With the introduction of oil into the economy it is feared that agriculture will lose its position in the country's economy. What will you do to avoid it. Nana Addo The country's agriculture is already suffering under the current NDC government. In 2008 under the Kufuor administration, agriculture was over eight per cent but in 2011 the growth of agriculture is less than two per cent. The country will diversify its agriculture produce and invest in maize, shea nut and ensure the Dutch disease will not happen. John Mahama The government is already investing in agriculture. It has provided mechanised machines for rice production. It has shown in the results with rice production increasing at a higher rate than it it did in 2008. There has been poaching in the country's waters and that has affected fishing in the country and agriculture as a whole. Abu Sakara Introduce a new plantation crop and sugarcane will be be the new crop. Will three plants to produce ethanol for use in the health and domestic sectors of the economy. The oil find should be used to finance mechanised agriculture in the country. Hassan Ayariga Ayariga does not believe oil is owned by Ghanaians. Rather it is owned by foreigners in Ghana. He maintains Ghana has a grip on agriculture and must do well to improve upon the sector by engaging in medium and large scale farming. There should be silos to store the products and assist farmers with inputs and subsidies and not rely on foreigners to import what we eat. Rebuttal John Mahama exercises his first right of rebuttal saying the arguments as put forward by the CPP flagbearer is already happening. He says he has already signed an agreement for the production of ethanol in two areas in the country. Ques: How will you address the issue of unemployment. John Mahama Unemployment is a major global problem. We have turned the National Youth Employment Programme into a skills equipping programme. Young people will be trained not as employees but as entrepreneurs to employ people. Abu Sakara We must fit human man power to job market. Economy must not only grow without development as it is happening now but must evolve. Emphasis on technical and vocational training. People with education but without jobs will be retooled with massive investment. We must create jobs in the partnership private sector. After killing our industries they now tell us they will create jobs through industries. How do they intend to do us? Hassan Ayariga We must change educational curriculum by training students with technical expertise. We must help small scale farmers with massive investments. Nana Akufo-Addo The NDC promise in the manifesto was to solve unemployment but that remains a mirage. One in three Ghanaians do not have jobs. One in six have given up looking for jobs. Under an Akufo-Addo government there will be massive investments in roads and other infrastructure to provide medium term jobs. In the medium to long term, manufacturing will be improved greatly. Will must improve industrialisation in the country.