It’s official! : Mahama, NDC will not participate in IEA debate

 Deputy Spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer campaign, Lawyer Beatrice Annan has said Mr. John Dramani Mahama will not take part in any debate organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

That she said was because the party has outlined it programmes to reach out to the public with their message and that does not include debate.

Lawyer Beatrice Annan was speaking on Big Issue on TV3 NewDay monitored by GhanaPlus.com on Thursday, August 8.

“……….What I want to say this morning and on authority is that the NDC and President Mahama will not participate in any debate to be organized whether in September or in November in Accra or in Kumasi by the IEA. I am saying this in my official capacity as the Deputy Spokesperson for the flagbearer campaign,” she said.

“Our flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama will not participate in any debate organized by the IEA and this is official,” Lawyer Beatrice Annan emphasized.

That aside, she noted their main contender, the New Patriotic Party and its flagbearer, Dr Mahammudu Bawumia do not have any policies on which they seek to challenge them to a debate.

“I think that like every presidential debate, it is relevant and will afford the presidential candidate the opportunity to cross check their ideas and so you will agree with me that in order to cross check the ideas, it means first of all, there must exist an idea or policies. What we are seeing is that one of the major candidate do not have any policy. Dr Bawumia is in the second phase of his campaign, our only and earliest recollection is buying phones for young people to pay 1cedis, 2cedis a month, I don’t know of any policy, ” Lawyer Beatrice Annan said.

IEA to hold presidential debate

The Institute of Economic Affairs, at the launch of its 2024 Election Activities on Wednesday, August 7 announced two Presidential debates in Kumasi and Accra respectively.

A Vice-Presidential debate for selected candidates and a Presidential Evening Encounter.

Graphionline report, the Evening Encounters will be held in September while the Presidential debates will be held in October and November.

Bawumia challenge Mahama to a debate

The announcement followed an earlier call by the NPP flagbearer for same with John Dramani Mahama.

“I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the country, on governance,” Dr. Bawumia said. “But I am afraid that he is running away from a debate. His people say he doesn’t want to debate. I have never heard of an opposition leader who doesn’t want to debate. But he knows I will expose the emptiness of his policies.”

“He says he has a 24-hour economy which he cannot explain. It is as empty as an empty barrel. He cannot explain it and none of his people can explain it. They say they will be exporting lions and elephants.

When we meet mano a mano, we can debate, and the country will see where our policies lie. That is where we should go. We should give the country an opportunity to listen to us. If he chooses not to debate, I’ll continue to sell my policies.”

Dr Bawumia said while addressing party supporters in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region of Ghana on July 10, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: GhanaPlus.com