Presidential Debate: Presidential Candidates goofed

November 18, 2004 - (Ghanaian Chronicle - Accra) Immidiate past President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mrs. Gifty Afenyi Dadzie has expressed shock and dismay about the performances of the three presidential candidates on the gender issue at the forum held by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra on Tuesday.

According to her, the candidates, who appeared on the programme to answer questions on how they would govern the nation if given the mandate, performed below expectation in their response to the Domestic Violence Bill.

Mrs. Afenyi Dadzie, one of the leading gender advocates, was talking to The Chronicle about her views on the programme that featured Professor John Evans Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Edward Mahama of the Grand Coalition and Mr. George Aggudey of the Comvention People's Party.

President J.A. Kufuor, of the New Patriotic Party, did not participate.

"I was disappointed about the way and manner they handled the gender issue, particularly the Domestic Violence Bill, which borders on criminality. We are not talking about marital rape here, but everybody centres on marital rape and it has taken away the focus on the fundamental issues that we are calling for," she fumed.

She suggested that, now that Ghana had a women's manifesto, it would be prudent for the presidential candidates to get copies and study it carefully. With regards to the criminal libel law, Mrs. Afenyi Dadzie said the presidential candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr. Aggudey was even more disappointing.

"In fact, Aggudey goofed. I think that in as much as I cannot fault him on his own opinion, I think he should go back and study the context of the repeal of the criminal libel law and also know that there are other avenues to seek redress if you feel offended; the repeal of criminal libel law is good for the nation."

Asked whether the debate would change the pattern of votes in the December 7 elections, Mrs. Afenyi-Dadzie pointed out that it was likely to change the pattern since sections of the electorate were still undecided.

"Obviously, there are some people who have not made up their minds and listening to them would help, as it were, to shape their mind."

The GJA ex-President said she was of the view that the forum provided a platform for all and sundry to know and assess the presidential candidates more, and that it would have been better if President Kufuor, the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was also present to respond to questions that would add more value to the debate. "I think that he had a choice to be here and he did not take the opportunity. Though I don't know the full facts but I think that Ghanaians would have loved it if he also came to contribute his quota. People have choices and they defend them and face the consequences."

On the performance of the media, she said, "I think that we are on track except that we should broaden out and encourage more issues even as we approach the elections for people to make up their own choices."

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200411180342.html