Next arrow in slider goes to footer instead of the next post

I am trying to customize the main Index Template on The Producer theme (https://themes.themolitor.com/producer/) so that the slider is the first thing that shows on the main Index Template. I have got to the point where you can see the slider when you click on the main Index Template but for some reason the back and fort arrow bring up the footer as well as showing the next post. I have not changed anything with to do with the arrows but I must have accidentally done something. I have copied the adjusted version of the coding below. Can anyone help me fix this issue please?

<?php
get_header(); 

//VAR SETUP
$sliderCat = get_option('themolitor_slider_category');
$catBg = get_tax_meta($sliderCat,'cat_bg');
$sliderNum = get_theme_mod('themolitor_customizer_slider_number');
$welcomeMsg = get_theme_mod('themolitor_customizer_welcome');
	if(!$welcomeMsg){$welcomeMsg = get_bloginfo('description');}
	$panelId = 'welcome';
	$panelClass = '';
	$panelContent =  '<h1>'.$welcomeMsg.'</h1>';
?>

<div id="topPanel">
<div id="sliderContainer">
<div id="innerSlider">
<div class="innerSection">
		<div id="homeSlider">

<ul>
		<?php
		$temp = $wp_query;
		$wp_query= null;
		$wp_query = new WP_Query();
		$wp_query->query('cat='.$sliderCat.'&posts_per_page='.$sliderNum);
		while ($wp_query->have_posts()) : $wp_query->the_post();
		$data = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'key', true );
		if(isset($data[ 'custom-background' ])){$backImage = $data[ 'custom-background' ];}
		?>
		<li class="homeSlide">
			<?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) { ?>
			<a>"><?php the_post_thumbnail('post-thumbnail',array('title' => get_the_title())); ?></a>
			<?php } ?>

			<div class="slideDetails">
				<h2 class="posttitle"><a>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>"><?php the_title();?></a></h2>
				<?php the_excerpt();?>
				<a>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>"><?php _e('Continue','themolitor');?></a>
			</div><!--end slideDetails-->

        	<span><?php echo $backImage;?><img src="<?php echo $backImage;?>" /></span>

			<div class="clear"></div>
		<!--end homeSlide-->
		<?php
		endwhile;
		$wp_query = null; $wp_query = $temp;
		?>
		<!--VIEW ALL CATEGORY SLIDE-->
		<li class="homeSlide" id="catSlide">
			<div class="slideDetails">
				<h2 class="posttitle"><a>"><?php echo get_cat_name($sliderCat);?></a></h2>
				<?php echo category_description($sliderCat); ?>
				<a>"><?php _e('View All','themolitor');?></a>
			</div><!--end slideDetails-->
			<span><?php echo $catBg;?></span>
		<!--END VIEW ALL CATEGORY SLIDE-->
	</ul>
	<!--SLIDER ARROWS-->
	<a href="#">←</a>
	<a href="#">→</a>

	</div><!--end homeSlider-->

	<!--SLIDE INDICATORS-->
	<ul id="homeSlideNav">

</div><!--end innerSection-->
</div><!--end innerSlider-->
</div><!--end sliderContainer-->
</div><!--end topPanel-->

<?php get_footer(); ?>

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