The Institute of Progressive Governance (IPG) has urged the opposition NDC’s presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, to refrain from engaging in confrontations with his NPP counterpart, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, during the upcoming debate.
In a statement released by IPG, the think tank expressed concern regarding John Dramani Mahama’s apparent lack of interest in participating in a debate with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the forthcoming IEA Debate.
The organization voiced its apprehension over the former president’s reluctance to heed calls for a debate with Dr. Bawumia.
It is worrying that with Ghana’s democratic credentials, the presidential candidate for the major opposition party is running away from a healthy debate against his main contender in an election which many analysts believe to be the most crucial since 1992.
A discussion between the two primary candidates, as noted by IPG, not only enhances our democratic culture but also provides both candidates with the chance to articulate their vision, fundamental policies, and initiatives to the voters.
Both political parties have come up with manifestoes which contain detailed information of what each political party will do if elected to office. A debate between the two leading candidates will help throw more light on these manifesto promises. A debate between the two of them, we believe, will settle the question of whether the Ghanaian economy needs a reset or an upgrade. It will afford the Ghanaian people an opportunity to make a choice to whether to believe in the upgrade of Dr. Bawumia or the reset being preached by Mahama.
Ghanaians will also be able to know which of the two candidates can best manage the economy if elected president. There will also be an opportunity for the voting public to know the achievements of the two main political parties. It is, therefore, unfathomable that the former president and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress is running away from debating his opponent, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
IPG reports that the NDC has consistently labeled the Vice President as a liar over the years. A debate would serve to clarify once and for all whether Dr. Bawumia is truly dishonest.
Over the past few years, the refrain from the corridors of former President Mahama has been that Vice President Bawumia is a liar and that, he cannot speak to the economic record of the Akufo-Addo administration. The NDC branded Bawumia as ‘Bawuliar’ because of the afore-mentioned reason.
The Vice President and his team have rejected this label as false and not representative of the actual circumstances. A debate initiated by the IEA will resolve this matter definitively. Mahama should engage in a debate with Bawumia to reveal what he asserts to be the Vice President’s dishonesty, as stated by IPG.
Failure on the part of the former president to debate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will mean that the liar tag is nothing but a propaganda to smear the reputation of the Vice President. The Ghanaian voter must not be denied the opportunity to watch a debate between candidates Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama. The former president must not run away from debating Dr. Bawumia at the IEA organized debate scheduled a few weeks to come.
