John Agyekum Kufuor ACCRA, Ghana — The first-ever forum for Ghanaian presidential candidates attracted a raucous, overflow crowd of 1,400 — and six of the seven candidates — to the Accra International Conference Center auditorium yesterday.

Co-sponsored by The Freedom Forum, the Ghana Journalists Association and the Ghana Broadcasting Corp., the 90-minute discussion was carried live on television and radio by the government-controlled GBC. It was part of the two-day Africa Media Forum on "Press, Power & Politics."

"This is what we've been waiting for," Godwin Avenorgbo, director of radio for the GBC, said in welcoming the chanting, cheering, banner-waving crowd. In the days leading up to the event, it was promoted on the front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, both independent and government-controlled, in two-inch-high headlines as the "Great Historic Debate."

Dan Lartey Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, president of the Ghana Journalists Association, characterized the discussion as a milestone for Ghana's 8-year-old democracy. In 1957, the country, then known as the Gold Coast, gained independence from Great Britain, but free and democratic multiparty elections did not occur until a new constitution was adopted in 1992. No candidates' forums were held before the 1992 and 1996 elections.

"We believe every nation should have the right … to provide its people with the opportunity to express their views and the opportunity to hear the diverse voices of others," said Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of The Freedom Forum.

Conspicuous by his absence on the stage yesterday was John Evans Atta Mills, the current vice president, who is said to be the frontrunner in the race to succeed President Jerry John Rawlings. Forum moderator Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Johannesburg bureau chief of CNN, said Mills was unable to participate because of a "scheduling conflict," a remark that was greeted by boos and jeers from many in the audience.

Earlier in the week, Ghana's minister of communications had been quoted in the government-owned Daily Graphic as saying Mills' unwillingness to appear stemmed partly from the government's objection to "the unnecessary involvement and interference of foreign individuals and organisations in the nation's electioneering process."

Charles Wereko-Brobby Mills is the candidate of the National Democratic Congress, whose ticket in 1992 and 1996 was led by one-time military ruler Rawlings. Under the 1992 constitution, a president is limited to two four-year terms – hence the spirited race to succeed Rawlings.

If no candidate achieves a majority of the vote in the Dec. 7 election, the top two finishers will square off in a runoff election several weeks later.

The debate format was designed to give each candidate time to be heard and to answer questions. The candidates were allotted two minutes each for opening statements and for summations. In between, two Ghanaian journalists — newspaper columnist Audrey Gadzekpo and radio talk-show host Kwaku Sakyi-Addo — questioned the candidates in alternating fashion. Then a dozen citizens, pre-selected to represent a cross-section of the voters, posed questions.

Augustus 'Goosie' Tanoh Dominating the discussion were economic issues such as the escalating price and decreasing supply of fuel, Ghana's $500 million budget deficit, the declining value of the Ghanaian monetary unit (the cedi), and problems faced by farmers, fishermen and would-be entrepreneurs. Among other matters discussed were the "cash and carry" system of health care that replaced a highly subsidized program, education's one-third share of the national budget, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and Ghana's criminal-libel law that critics say stifles press freedom.

John Agyekum Kufuor, running again as candidate of the New Patriotic Party — he was runner-up to Rawlings in 1996 with about 40% of the vote — said in response to a question that the libel law is "a relic of (British) colonialism." Calling the free flow of information "critical," he said it is "too much to allow the government to use the criminal libel (law) to gut the press." At the same time, Kufuor said it was imperative that the news media be "responsible."

George P. Hagan George P. Hagan said in his opening statement that his Convention People's Party "recognizes the mass media as a partner for growth and commits itself to the development of a free, vigorous and informed media." Asked later whether Ghana is now a stable democracy, with no threat of a resumption of military coups, he replied, "I do believe that Ghana has matured as a nation. I do believe that in the current circumstances the military have a role, which has been defined by the constitution. And if we provided the military with what they needed, and if we — the civilians in government — behaved in a way that would not provide them a reason to come out and overthrow us, then I do believe that the military can be made to stay in the barracks."

Other candidates on the dais were:

Charles Wereko-Brobby of the United Ghana Movement, who said failed policies had "all but rendered … meaningless" the "independence from which we derive our sovereignty and powers of government."

Augustus "Goosie" Tanoh of the National Reform Party, who said the government must "put the support systems in place that allow our people to be productive — to be competitive on the international stage and in the domestic market."

Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Party, who called for "a new economic order" in which Ghanaians would "produce our own goods, produce our own food, produce exports and produce our stockpiles."

Edward Nasigrie Mahama of the People's National Convention, who pledged "honest, dedicated, dynamic and visionary leadership."

Affenyi-Dadzie of the Ghana Journalists Association said in closing the program that she hoped additional forums would be held before the election. However, none has been scheduled.