Programme to influence party manifestos launched
A programme to assist political parties draft manifestos tailored to meet the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian has been launched in Accra.
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Known as “Influencing Political Party Manifestos to Enhance Issues-based 2016 Electioneering,” the programme is geared towards empowering political parties to consider critical issues that Ghanaians face and draft manifestos that would address them.
The programme is also meant to ensure that political parties’ manifestos are aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs are 17 inter-governmental aspirations and goals set after the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
They focus on the people, the planet, peace, prosperity and partnership.
As a result of these, governments all over the world have pledged their support and commitment by putting in place the necessary measures to ensure the development of their people.
ISODEC and STAR-Ghana programme
It is against this backdrop that the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), in partnership with STAR-Ghana has launched the programme that would empower political parties to put out functional manifestos tailored towards the needs of Ghanaians.
As part of the programme, the two organisations will meet political parties regularly and assist them in terms of research to ensure that their policies and programmes address the basic needs of the ordinary Ghanaian.
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In view of that a two-day programme has been held to bring together representatives of the various political parties, including the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) to lend their support to the project.
It also provided the platform for political parties and CSOs to dialogue on how the latter can align their manifestos, policies and programmes with the SDGs.
Solving national issues
In his address at the launch, the Chairman of the National Peace Council, the Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, said it was the responsibility of political parties to ensure that their policies and programmes were geared towards solving national issues.
He indicated that party manifestos should not be meant for only the educated elite, but should be such that the ordinary Ghanaian can have access to and understand them.
“Political parties’ manifestos should be made available to every Ghanaian to be able to understand whatever policies they have in place to solve the myriad of challenges facing the nation,” he said.
He stressed that political parties’ manifestos were not about whipping up ethnic and religious sentiments, noting that such acts ought to be discouraged.
Instead of fuelling tension and violence, Most Rev. Prof. Asante challenged parties to push their energies into resolving critical national issues.