The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) launched its 2016 Pre-Election Debate Series on Tuesday.
During the launch, the Institute indicated that this year's debate series will comprise Presidential candidates as well as Vice Presidential candidates of parties that have representatives in Parliament.
Also, there will be an Evening Encounter where the Ghanaian electorates will get the chance to interact with the Presidential Aspirants. As part of the debate series, the IEA further told the press that the organizers of the debate are discussing whether to incorporate parties that have no representation in Parliament in the debate.
One other new project the IEA wants to embark on is to hold a separate debate for just the Presidential candidates of the two major parties in the country, President John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party.
But according to Atik Mohammed, the General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), the move to have a separate debate for the two candidates will not augur well for Ghana's democracy.
According to him, the IEA will be promoting the two parties - the NDC and NPP - should they go ahead to pitch just the two candidates in the debate series.
Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Atik Mohammed called on the IEA and the organizers of the debate series to ignore the idea.
“It is not helpful. If you do that, it means you’re trying to promote the two parties…They should disband the thought of having an encounter for the two candidates only.” |
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