Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP), taking inspiration from the constitution of Ghana and other legislations which recognises the role of the media and Civil Society Organisations/Community groupings as key stakeholders in our decentralisation and governance system organised a parliamentary debate Sunday evening, November 19,2016, at the Damongo Lorry Station.

The debate which was scheduled to feature four(4) parliamentary candidates had two of the candidates honouring and battling it out in the ideas of youth development.They are the incumbent MP and parliamentary candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) hon . Adam Mutawakilu and the candidate of the convention peoples party (CPP) Mr.Hamdal.

The two parliamentary candidates took their turn to address the youth on questions centred around youth empowerment and employment, youth-in-agriculture,education & health,youth-in-skills training and entrepreneurship and youth-in-local security and sustained peace promotion.

The incumbent MP and candidate of the NDC in responding to questions from the thematic areas reiterated the fact that if reelected,he was going to establish a Youth Development Fund with an annual Gh30,000.00 seed capital for youth development, entrepreneurship and skills training. The fund according to him will be fully owned and managed by the youth under strict auditing and oversight monitoring conditions.He equally pledged his continues support for the youth-interms of education, health, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, and that he was going to expand his Vegetables Farmers Association to cover as many youth as possible.
He challenged Damongo Youth Parliament to submit a working proposal to him for adoption and further action.

His contender from the CPP indicated that he was going to lead a youth revolution if elected.He will make sure the youth with support from DYP police the natural resources of the district,and that he was going to adopt Damongo Youth Parliament and introduce members through mentorship to the full structures of the parliament of Ghana. He also promised to acquire a plot of land and establish an office for Damongo Youth Parliament to operate from.

In a keynote address, the guest speaker, Most Rev . Dr . Clement Aapegnuo challenged the youth to rise up and pursue their dreams. He cautioned the youth against election related violence and called on our leaders to have confidence in and invest in the youth.

The candidate for the NPP gave a rather later response to our invitation through his party secretary after several follow-ups of his inability to honour the debate because he had an emergency meeting to attend.The PPP candidate had indicated that he was away in Accra for other important schedules.

Damongo Youth Parliament was highly commended by all and sundry for the good initiative and works. The parliament was encouraged to sustain such efforts into the future.

The about three (3) hours debate was carried live on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(Secretary-DYP/PAD FM NEWS DESK)
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