Koforidua, Nov. 28, GNA - The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) on Friday organized a debate for some aspiring parliamentary candidates in the Eastern Region, for them to present themselves to the electorate on how they would promote education when given the nod.

The candidates included Mr Frank Adu Amankwah, New Juaben North, Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr Antwi Bosiako, who represented the candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in New Juaben South and Ms Agnes Akweley, for People's National Convention (PNC), Upper West Akyem. The rest were Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, PNC, New Juaben South, Reverend Dr Joseph Asare Akoto, representative of New Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Asuogyaman, Hajia Hawa Issaka, PNC Akropong, Musa Mohamed, PNC, Ofoase/Ayirebi and Mr Collins Agyei Oteng, CPP New Juaben South.

Mr Adu Amankwah said when elected he would make sure that school children in the area do not loiter about during school hours, by empowering the community police to monitor deviant pupils. He said a child found outside classes during school hours would be punished alongside his parents.

Mr Bosiako said he would ensure that the School Feeding Programme was extended to all schools in the constituency to encourage more children to go to school.

He said he would also set up a fund to cater for brilliant but needy pupils to enable them to complete their studies. Ms Akweley said she would ensure that schools in her area were supplied with adequate text books to promote effective teaching and learning.

Nana Bonsu said students who excelled academically would be given scholarships to complete their studies. Reverend Dr Akoto said his priority would be the motivation of teachers in the area as an incentive to boost their morale to give of their best.

He would also ensure that teachers were well accommodated and also create opportunities for every child to have access to education. Earlier, Mr Lawrence Batsa, Eastern Regional Coordinator, GNECC, said the main objective of the organization was to campaign for good quality, accessible and enjoyable basic education for all children irrespective of gender, ethnicity and geographical location. He said the GNECC would ensure through its advocacy initiatives that the successful candidates who would represent them in parliament would dutifully carry out their agendas with regards to education. Mr Bright Appiah, National Chairperson of GNECC, commended the government for the passage of the Education Bill, which he said would help to move their agenda on education forward. Mr Solomons Djaba-Mensah, Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) chaired the function.