The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the Party would not take part in any presidential debate ahead of the December 7th general elections.
According to the National Chairman of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the presidential debate with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would be a “completely worthless exercise.”
Dr. Bawumia, the NPP flagbearer, recently challenged Mahama to a live presidential debate, asserting that Mahama is “running away” from the opportunity.
“I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the country, on governance,” Bawumia said
But the NDC speaking through its scribe on explained that the NDC’s stance is based on the principle of not debating someone who lacks credibility.
He added, “It tells you that he either assumes that Ghanaians are not intelligent, so you can just tell us anything and you can get away with it. We are not going to be part of that… he should go and debate his own records and what he has said in the past.”
The NDC Chairman concluded by stating that while he rates Nana Akufo-Addo higher than Bawumia in terms of credibility, he believes that Bawumia has “messed up his credibility totally.”
“If you have watched me throughout my political life, there are two people I don’t debate. My guiding principles are two: Don’t debate an idiot and don’t debate a liar. So, any of these two who tempt me for any debate, I ignore them,” he stated.
He further clarified his position by saying, “I am not saying the two must fit one person, but when you look at the two categorisations, you see that he [Dr. Bawumia] is a liar. That is something nobody can contest. I’m not too sure whether he’s an idiot, but at least I’m sure he’s a liar.”
It may be recalled that the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA ) in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 announced its intension to organise the presidential debate in the lead up to the December polls.
It underscored the importance of hosting a debate before the elections, involving several political parties intending to participate.
The IEA highlighted that these debates are crucial for voters to assess both presidential and vice-presidential candidates, aiding in informed decision-making.
While the exact date for the debates has not yet been determined, the IEA confirmed that they will take place before the December election and that the timeline for the debates will be revealed during the launch of IEA’s election activities.
The debates is expected to cover various thematic areas, including the economy, governance, natural resources, agriculture, education, health, labour, gender, children, youth, and other social issues.