Contest of Manifestoes in Ghana'08 Polls

As election 2008 in Ghana draws near, the battle to capture the hearts and minds of Ghanaians rages on largely between CPP, NPP & NDC both at home and internationally. To help make your choice easier for you if you choose to base your decision on the promises made in their various manifestoes, I have attempted to outline their agenda for you. By the way, a manifesto is a public written declaration of principles, policies, and objectives, especially one issued by a political movement or candidate. Below is the summary of the manifestoes of the arguably the three strongest political parties going into the December 7, 2008 general polls. Please make time to read them carefully so as to make the right judgment when called upon to do so in the coming days.

CPP MANIFESTO Ninety-six page manifesto with the theme: "New Dawn. New Vision" It focuses on four thematic areas: · Social policy · Economic policy · Responsive governance · International relations. Priority areas: •Improvements in public and community safety. •Free basic education up to secondary school. •Creating an attractive environment for both domestic and foreign investment to flourish. •Access to modern, decent and affordable accommodation. •Access to essential social services such as water, electricity and sanitation irrespective of income. •To combat infant mortality, eradicate malaria, and tackle HIV/AIDS, with everyone having free access to modern standards of healthcare regardless of means. NPP MANIFESTO Sixty-four page manifesto with the theme "Moving Forward". "The goal is to get to a first class country and be able to stand with other nations with dignity." It will also submit, within 100 days in power, the Northern Affirmation Bill to parliament to promote and speed up the development process in the three northern regions. It focuses on four thematic areas: · Strengthening the country's democracy. · Structural transformation of the economy and industrialization. · Regional and continental integration. · Modernization of the Ghanaian society. Priority Areas: • Strengthening the NHIS and investing in sanitation. •Transforming the North. • Making secondary education free and putting the teacher at the centre of our education. • Expanding the National Youth Employment Programme to cover 500 thousand people. • Doubling the police force to protect people. • Providing retirement security through housing and other benefits. NDC MANIFESTO 97-page manifesto dubbed "A Better Ghana: Investing in People, Jobs and the Economy". The first 100 days of an NDC government would establish a lean but effective and efficient government by cutting out ostentation and profligate expenditure; rationalizing ministries and ministerial appointments; and promoting service, humility and integrity as cannons of government. It focuses on four thematic areas: · Transparent and accountable governance. · Building a stronger economy for real jobs · Investing in people. · Expanding infrastructure for economic growth. Priority Areas: •Initiate democratic stakeholders’ discussion on the functions of parliament to develop firm proposals for reforming the legislature. •A middle-income economy that registers in the lives, livelihoods and incomes of ordinary people by the year 2020 •Human settlement policy and strategy for urban development. •Slum upgrading and rural housing. •Sustaining water and sanitation infrastructure and transportation •Science and technology for development