Innovative ‘People’s Manifesto’ akin to good governance – CSD lauds NDC

The Centre for Social Democracy (CSD-Ghana) has commended the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for calling for inputs from interested groups and Ghanaians into their 2020 election manifesto dubbed the ‘People’s Manifesto’.

In a press statement signed by a Fellow of CSG-Ghana, Mr. Williams Agbodo and copied Awake News, the concept being adopted by the NDC reflects a more inclusive approach in developing a manifesto that will reflect the needs of the masses.

“This, the Centre believes, is in line with a social-democratic ideology which seeks to promote inclusiveness, popular participation and empowering citizens by giving them a voice.”

According to him, “This approach is equally akin to good governance which will make the party’s manifesto proposals more responsive to the needs of Ghanaians both at home and abroad.”

The Centre says the People’s Manifesto is clearly a departure from ways of drafting manifesto in Ghana which mostly has limited people’s participation.

“The Centre observes that this approach is clearly a departure from the usual approach to manifesto drafting by political parties in Ghana where they put up manifesto committees to develop their proposals, sometimes, with limited consultations with selected stakeholders.” – Mr. Agbodo said

“This, CSD-Ghana believes, is partly responsible for the situation where political parties upon election into government are unable to implement some of their manifesto promises because such promises are defective or unworkable.” – he added

“While we encourage Ghanaians and interest groups to take advantage of this opportunity, we wish to encourage the NDC to go beyond receiving proposals from organized groups and individuals and take advantage of the opportunity to forge closer partnerships with various organized groups in the process to develop proposals that are more responsive to the challenges facing Ghanaians.”

Read the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

CSD-GHANA COMMENDS THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE MANIFESTO PROCESS
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Accra, November 4, 2019 -The Centre for Social Democracy (CSD-Ghana) has taken note of a press release by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) signed by a Deputy General Secretary of the party Comrade Peter Boamah Otukunor calling for inputs from interested groups and Ghanaians into the manifesto of the NDC for the 2020 elections. This has come at a time when the flagbearer at the inauguration of the party’s Manifesto Committee charged members of the Committee to develop a ‘People’s Manifesto’.

CSD-Ghana wishes to commend the NDC for adopting a more inclusive approach in developing their manifesto. This, the Centre believes, is in line with social democratic ideology which seeks to promote inclusiveness, popular participation and empowering citizens by giving them a voice. This approach is equally akin to good governance which will make the party’s manifesto proposals more responsive to the needs of Ghanaians both home and abroad.

The Centre observes that this approach is clearly a departure from the usual approach to manifesto drafting by political parties in Ghana where they put up manifesto committees to develop their proposals, sometimes, with limited consultations with selected stakeholders. This, CSD-Ghana believes, is partly responsible for the situation where political parties upon election into government are unable to implement some of their manifesto promises because such promises are defective or unworkable.

While we encourage Ghanaians and interest groups to take advantage of this opportunity, we wish to encourage the NDC to go beyond receiving proposals from organized groups and individuals and take advantage of the opportunity to forge closer partnerships with various organized groups in the process to develop proposals that are more responsive to the challenges facing Ghanaians.

Mr. Williams Agbodo
Fellow

By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com