It was aimed at bringing the electorate and the candidates together to ensure a peaceful election.

The debate also gave the candidates a chance to sell their ideas and policies to the electorate and how they would implement them to develop their constituencies when they were given the nod to represent their people in parliament.

The debate took place in the Bawku Central, Pusiga, Binduri, Zebilla, Garu and the Tempane constituencies of the Bawku area.

It was conducted in the various constituencies to allow the candidates answer questions from the electorate on agriculture, health, education and employment concerns affecting them.

Five political parties including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), and an independent candidate participated in the maiden debate.

Mr Gomez Adongo, the Upper East Regional NCCE programmes officer, who addressed the participants at the debate at Binduri , described the deliberations as a step in the right direction, saying it would go a long way to bring unity among the people and the country as a whole.

He urged the electorate to vote based on ideas and good policies and not on personalities so that they could get the right person to articulate their views well in parliament.

Mr Daniel Baya Laar, the NCCE Director in charge of the Binduri District, commended both the electorate and the candidates for their sense of maturity and called on them to create an enabling environment for peace and development.

Mr Laar urged all in the Bawku area to use the election period to prove to the rest of the country that they were a peaceful and friendly society.

He commended the European Union for its support in funding the programme saying it would help hold duty bearers accountable.