Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Presidential Candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) on Wednesday said when elected his government would champion the cause of women in nation building.

He said “politicians must practice what they preach, and walk the talk..., as the CPP has demonstrated with its commitment to gender mainstreaming by electing a woman as the Chairperson of the party.

“Our first and second Vice Chairperson are all women and above all nominated a woman as potential Vice President of Ghana, this is a firm demonstration of a party’s stand for promoting gender issues”, Dr Sakara said.

Dr Sakara, who was answering questions at the second and final Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate for Presidential Candidates of political parties with representation in Parliament at the Banquet Hall of the State House, commended Ghanaian women for their tenacity and fortitude to serve as beacon of hope to the society.

He said a CPP government would roll-out programmes that would allow women to increase their representation in national decision making processes saying it would also promulgate affirmative action legislation as a basis for monitoring and ensuring that public organizations adhered to its stated objectives.

Dr Sakara said a CPP government would make institutional arrangements at all levels to achieve gender mainstreaming such that both men and women would equally attain and occupy positions without any bias.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said “as a father of five girls who have worked with women across board will make sure that women play key role in governance”.

He said “I have promoted gender mainstreaming even within our party structure, been advocate of affirmative action and would continue to promulgate policies that will empower women.”

Nana Akufo-Addo acknowledged that women form over 51 per cent of the national population and therefore issues relating to gender mainstreaming must be tackled holistically.

Mr Hassan Ayariga Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) said “empowering women and providing support at the grass root would be paramount under his administration, when elected.”

He said a PNC Government would identify career women and empower them, implement affirmative action and continue other gender policies of the current administration.

An added innovation at the second debate was the sitting arrangement as the Presidential candidates were comfortable seated which is in sharp contrast to the first debate where the candidates were made to stand for hours.

Most of the dignitaries who attended commended the organisers for the innovation and reduction in duration.

The second debate concludes series of debates and interventions initiated by IEA to promote issues based campaign and promote democratic governance especially as the nation prepares for election 2012