The first of two Presidential Debates for four candidates of parties with representation in Parliament gets underway this evening at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence. Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention, Prof John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People’s Party will square off in a test of wits and will at the forum organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA, with the support of Joy FM and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Moderators Cyril Acolatse and Prof. Kwame Karikari, two seasoned journalists, are to take the candidates through four grueling rounds of tough questioning. Joy FM will carry the debate live, and you can also follow our live updates here. It starts at 6:45 The second round of the debate is scheduled for November 12 in Tamale. Live updates here Ahead of the crunch presidential debate between the forerunners in this year's elections, a member of the Democratic Freedom Party is seeking a declaration from the courts to stop the IEA from continuing with the debate. Mr. Kweku Baah sought the High Court to restrain the IEA and its agents from holding the debate. But the IEA say they have not been served with any writ and therefore are going ahead with the planned debate. A law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, says if the court has any cause to believe that Mr Baah is just seeking to frustrate the programme, it may not grant the reliefs sought. The DFP and other political parties which have no representation in Parliament are excluded from the debate. That exclusion must have informed Mr. Baah's decision to initiate the action to stop the debate. Analysts believe the second debate slated for November 12 at Kanvili in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, could run into difficulties if Mr. Baah sticks to his guns to stop the debate. Justifying, his action, Mr. Baah told Joy News' Evans Mensah that although the IEA was an autonomous body, it operated in Ghana and ought to abide by the country's laws. Meanwhile Joy FM's Akwasi Sarpong and Karl Tuffuor say the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, venue for the debate is buzzing with activity. 6:50pm: Several persons unaccredited to attend the event attempt to push their way through but meet security resistance. 6:55pm: All candidates seated and ready to go; 7:00pm: Prayers said to open the programme. 7:02pm: The Alabastar Box, a musical acapella quartet sings the National Anthem. 7:05pm: This debate is historic says Jean Mensah, Administrator of the IEA. 7:08pm: Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Chairman for the occasion urges candidates to do their utmost. 7:10pm: Candidates shake hands. 7:12pm: Chairman of the debate Cardinal Appiah Turkson welcomes candidates. He hopes debate will inform electorate to make informed choices. Thanks candidates for accepting invitation 7:15pm: Oscar Provencal, announcer for the debate spells out rules of engagement. 7:18pm: Nana Addo takes first question on the economy. 7:20pm: What will you do to create jobs? 7:20pm: Double police force from 25,000 to 50,000, support small and medium scale enterprises. Establish fund to help companies access fund to establish business, reduce tax burden, major industrial project of oil exploration. 7:22pm: What will you do to take headporters (Kayayei) off the streets? Ans: Apprenticeship to enhance their capacity 7:25pm: Dr. Nduom addresses question will use state purchasing power to buy what is produced in the country. Create market in Ghana for people who invest in the country, build roads, bring back the jute factory to produce sacks for Ghana's cocoa 7:26pm: What will be attitude to buy and sell? Ans: Buy and sell is not bad if it involves what is produced in the country 7:28pm: Prof. Mills addresses question: Private sector and agriculture collapsed and need to be supported, graduate unemployment should be addressed and quality of education reviewed. 7:30pm: Private sector is crying for help, political atmosphere so polluted that people just fold arms and just import, not good and should be reversed. 7:32pm: Dr. Edward Mahama addresses question: Cocoa farmers have market so they are producing, Ghana must industrialize, Ghana is still exporting raw cocoa beans, value addition needed to create jobs, Oil resources must be used to energise agric sector, tackle post harvest losses. 7:34pm: Ghana has found oil in commercial quantities what do you intend to do if elected into office Nduom starts with an answer 7:35pm: Oil Money : Nduom: If the oil is not going to benefit Ghanaians “then it must stay on the ground”. He is not happy that other resources in Ghana have not been exploited to the benefit of the local people. To stop the case of what is happening in Nigeria Niger Delta, communities around such resources would be rebuilt and give them a befitting outlook. Parliament would pass a law to prevent the executive from deciding how the money is used says Nduom. 7:38pm: Prof. Mills: It is by God's blessing that we have oil and not anyone's good deeds. Oil should be utilised for the benefit of the country and government should have a bigger say in oil revenue control, not outsiders. 7:45pm: Mahama: Ghanaians should be educated on how to utilize the oil and not to wait for the oil companies to just exploit. Oil industry and contracts should be transparent. 7:48pm Akufo-Addo: Oil fund would be set up under the supervision of parliament and a huge chunk of that fund would go to the development of the Western Region. It's by virtue of good luck that Ghana have struck oil. 7:50pm: Question: Economic growth requires foreign investment, how would you manage it without the stifling of the local investors? 7:56pm: Mahama: Credit facility: That would be done through the local bank to prevent hijack by party functionaries, criticises the government’s mode of distributing loans to farmers. 8:01 What will you do to make private sector move faster? 8:02: Nana Addo: Grow the private sector providing technical assistance and capital to small scale enterprises, ensuring that 50% of government supply comes from the local industries. Even USA welcomes FDI, FDIs bring knowledge. Must strengthen local companies by passing laws that will ensure that everything is procured from Ghanaian producers 8:06pm: Dr Nduom: The private sector as the engine alone would not move unless there is a tyre with a competent driver in it. Direct local investment and not foreign direct investment is what would be pursued. Believes the president must go round and find out what the needs of businesses are and provide for those needs. 8:10pm Prof Mills: Local entrepreneurs need to be supported, Private sector contributing near-zero per cent to GDP and have not grown over the years. 8:12pm: What will you do to make Ghanaians benefit from regional market? 8:12pm: Edward Mahama: First thing to do is to remove barriers to enhance regional trade, We have to be self reliant and believe in ourselves, will treat all ministers who fall sick in Ghana and not outside 8:15pm: Follow-up question: How will you go round the barriers if they are not removed Ans; Will put security measures in place.8:15 8:18pm: Nana Addo: There have to be 2 or 3 countries that must drive process of integration and Ghana must be one. Will try and impress upon Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Benin to see the need for integration. A large market within the West African sub region which Ghana can take advantage of production but there are constraints some of which are being addressed. 8:22pm: Atta Mills will earn the trust of the leaders in order for them to cooperate with him if elected. Mills would talk to all leaders in the sub region to forge a common consensus. There is mistrust between leaders in the West African sub-region and major problem with Regional Integration because leaders say one thing and do another.