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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Listers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Did anyone watch the 1<sup>st</sup> Ghanaian Presidential Debate held Live on Tuesday this week? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>If you missed it, it is worth watching at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_110227&feature=iv&src_vid=cw__Fw45d7o&v=_zVy9-slBZY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_110227&feature=iv&src_vid=cw__Fw45d7o&v=_zVy9-slBZY</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>It was impressive and I loved the structure of the debate for 3 reasons:-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>It focused entirely on <b><u>SUBTANCE</u></b> (Development Agenda) – ICT issues also featured in the discussions! A pure focus on concrete agenda/vision for the country going forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>The facilitation was very focused with strategic questions posed to the candidates sequentially and they had EXACTLY 3 minutes to succinctly respond and no more! They had only 3 “chances of rebuttal”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>They had a blend of a researcher/media personality as the co-hosts – which means empirical evidence/research information was consulted to pose piercing and targeted questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='color:red'>There was no room as such for “dirty politics/ethnic persuasions”. </span><span lang=EN-US>The 3<sup>rd</sup> debate will feature a debate of the running mates! The whole debate series is managed by the Institute of Economic Affairs.<span style='color:red'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>As we gear up to Kenya’s debate this month, many questions run through my mind:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>Will Kenya for the first time focus on SUBTANCE and NOT our usual political theatrics?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>Will we draw on empirical evidence to pose challenging and deep questions? What role can research think tanks play to have substantive issues addressed?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN-US><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US>How will the 20+ presidential candidates be managed in an effective way to give equal opportunity to all, yet remain focused and substantive?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>…………the list goes on!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>I’m sure listers have many more questions!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>As a community, we should aim to submit concrete pressing questions related to the industry (assuming there’s room for this)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>I hope Julie and her co-host will run Kenya’s debate differently and borrow a leaf from Ghana’s….avoiding the Kenyan typical style of politics! This is a challenge we throw to the media houses that will be hosting the series of historic debates.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Reflective Edith!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>