[ 2016-05-11 ]

Mahama may not participate in IEA presidential debate -NDC
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC)
has strongly indicated that it may not participate
in the presidential debate organized by the
Institute of Economic Affairs.

The National Organizer of the party, Kofi Adams
criticized the think-tank for failing to consult
the party on the programme.

“IEA cannot just announce a programme, it has
not engaged the party on. We are surprised… So
if the party has their own programme how are you
going to organize it”?

The IEA barely 24 hours ago had revealed that it
is considering holding a separate debate for the
presidential candidates of the two major political
parties; NDC and NPP.

The estranged relationship between the IEA and the
governing party is an open secret. The NDC has
branded the civil society body as an appendage of
the opposition NPP.

In 2015, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia
criticized the IEA for denying him the opportunity
to contribute to a discussion on corruption.

Kofi Adams said the IEA has various platforms for
leaders of all political parties one of which the
Chairman of the NDC chairs. He said the party
expected the IEA to consult their leader before
making pronouncements on the debate.

Kofi Adams suspects that the IEA discriminated
against the NDC by failing to consult it. “You
don’t go and engage one side and leave the
other” he said.

The party rejected suggestions that it is
posturing to abandon the debate opportunity.

He reminded the IEA that the NDC is the first
political party in power to accept to participate
in a presidential debate.

John Mahama engaged three other presidential
candidates in the 2012 debate in Tamale in the
Northern region. But President John Kufuor turned
down the opportunity in 2004 when the NPP was in
power.

Kofi Adams said once again, their presidential
candidate John Mahama has indicated his
willingness to battle their main rival Akufo-Addo
of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

The NDC National Organiser said a debate will
afford the party to deal with the propaganda
campaign of its rival. But the NDC is not mandated
to participate in IEA debates. If any such debate
is to come on, the proper procedure must be
followed, he indicated. “We are a serious
political party” Kofi Adams said. The NDC, he
said, will meet to consider joining the IEA
debate.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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