The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), through a parliamentary candidates’ dialogue forum, has been promoting participatory democracy in the Lawra Constituency ahead of the 2024 general election.

The forum was to create an opportunity for the candidates to interact with the constituents on issues of concern to the Ghanaian voter and enhance the voters’ knowledge to make an informed choice based on the candidates’ competency and development plans.

It was organised by the NCCE in partnership with the Lawra Municipal Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), an initiative of the NCCE to promote peace before, during, and after the 2024 general election.

Speaking at the opening of the forum in Lawra, Jesurun Ninge Mornah, the Lawra Municipal Director of the NCCE, urged the people to take advantage of their constitutional rights to be part of the election processes to strengthen the nation’s democratic credentials.

He encouraged them to use the platform to assess the candidates’ planned interventions for the constituency and to decide whose plans met the aspirations of the people of the constituency.

Mr. Dapila Samuel, a deacon of the Assemblies of God Church in Lawra, moderated the dialogue, which focused on key issues of concern to the voters including health, agriculture, education roads, unemployment, and the economy.

Representatives from the security services in the municipality, Members of the Lwara Municipal IPDC, religious leaders, and some heads of institutions and departments attended the forum.

Others were representatives from women and youth groups, Faith-based Organizations, Persons with Disabilities, students, and members of the various political parties.

The participants asked questions relating to the development needs of the constituency including the construction of the Dikpe Bridge.

Out of the three parliamentary candidates in the Lawra Constituency – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates and an Independent Parliamentary candidate, only the NDC parliamentary candidate turned up for the dialogue.

Bede A. Ziedeng, the NDC parliamentary candidate, commended the NCCE for the initiative and said it would help empower the electorates to make the right choice at the polls on December 7, 2024, of who to represent them in the parliament in 2025.