There was heavy security presence at the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literary and Bible Translation (GILLBT) Training Centre at Tamale during the Second 2008 Presidential Debate organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Wednesday.
The details executed their order so meticulously that it came as no surprise to the audience when Brigadier Francis Agyemfra, a Consultant to the IEA, commended the Northern Regional Minister, Mustapha Ali Idris and the Regional Coordinating Council for the excellent security arrangements.
At exactly 17:55 hours, the four Presidential Candidates - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP); Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of Convention People's Party (CPP); Professor John Evans Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Edward Mahama of People's National Convention (PNC), were ushered into the hall amidst drumming by a cultural troupe.
When they took their seats, the Presidential Candidate appeared more relaxed than when they appeared for the first debate in Accra, apparently they might have gained enough confidence from the earlier encounter.
After a formal welcoming address and a statement by Mrs Jean Mensa, Administration at IEA, and Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, Chairman of IEA Presidential Debates Committee, respectively, the Moderators, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Mr Israel Laryea, a Broadcast Journalist, took the Presidential Candidates through three sessions of questioning.
In all, the candidates answered 13 questions on governance, human and social issues during the session, which was held under the theme: "Strengthening The Pillars of Ghana's Democracy."
They had two minutes each to answer a question, a minute for rebuttal, if any and three minutes to address the people of Ghana and to pledge to work towards ensuring free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful elections.