The National Organizer of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has rubbished suggestions that the NDC and its flagbearer, President John Mahama, may be afraid to take part in a one-on-one debate with the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo.
The NDC has expressed anger over a proposal by the Institute of Economic Affairs’ (IEA), the organizers of the debate, to allow for a debate between the two main front runners and a separate one for parties without representation in Parliament.
[contextly_sidebar id=”5tpxTS6fXlC4JmXV0APa4aVwyEil8TXC”]The IEA explained that they were considering a special debate for the flagbearers of the NDC and the NPP because their surveys indicated public yearns for such a face-off, but the NDC has expressed displeasure with the IEA for not consulting the parties before their announcement on Tuesday.
Other smaller parties have similarly criticized IEA for the newly proposed arrangements.
Mr. Adams said their displeasure with the IEA’s announcements coupled with the silence of the NPP on the matter, does not mean that President Mahama is afraid to debate Nana Akufo Addo.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Adams noted that their flagbearer is intelligent and prepared any day for any debate on every subject.
“Do you see our candidate as someone who is ever afraid of a debate? This is a President who can deal with matters from Archaeology to Zoology, economy to everything.”
He also said his party would welcome such a platform as it would afford them the opportunity to punch holes in Nana Addo’s campaign messages.
According to him, “that is the platform that would have given us the opportunity to expose the ailments of Nana Akufo Addo’s argument; the lies, and the falsehood he has peddled all this while.”
IEA not doing parties a favour
Mr. Adams also stated that political parties did not need to take part in debates to win elections adding that the IEA was not doing any favours to the parties taking part in their debates.
“The IEA is not doing political parties, at least for us in the NDC, any favor by us taking part in that debate. Rather, we believe our participation helps the frontiers of developing civil society groups including the IEA so they should not for once think that they are the one creating the platform for a political party to sell its message.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana