In the run up to the December elections, Flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the wake of his campaign has dared former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to a live presidential debate to explain their respective visions and policies to the people of Ghana.
This call has been reiterated by President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo who has challenged his predecessor seeking another term in office, to participate in a public debate, questioning what John Dramani Mahama is running away from.
This call comes not long after the campaign team of the former President rejected calls for any presidential debate.
Addressing thousands of his supporters in Bunkpurugu, North East Region, Dr Bawumia said he was eagerly awaiting a debate with Mahama, but he was less optimistic that would happen because Mahama was “running away.”
In a meeting with Tamale chiefs on Wednesday, October 16, President Akufo-Addo urged Mahama to stop avoiding a direct confrontation with Bawumia. He emphasized the value of open communication in a democratic society and urged the NDC leader to engage in a debate with Dr. Bawumia to clarify his stance on a number of important issues.
The notion of debating Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, however, has been rejected by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, an advisor to former President John Mahama, who refers to it as a “dialogue for the deaf.”
Felix Ofosu Kwakye argued that it would serve no purpose debating Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who continues to tell Ghanaians that an economy that has defaulted on debt under his watch, is superior to the one in which Ghana was servicing its debts under President Mahama.
If you may recall, ahead of the 2016 General Election, the then President John Mahama called for a debate with his contender Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo but surprisingly the opposition NPP and their candidate refused to honor the call.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who was then the running mate for candidate Akuffo Addo in response to PRESIDENT Mahama, advised him to rather go debate market women if he really wanted to know the true state of the economy.
In 2020, The NDC Flagbearer John Mahama again called for a debate but the governing New Patriotic Party and its candidate Akuffo Addo turn down the call.
The big question is, why is the Ruling New Patriotic Party and its bigwigs now calling for a Debate?
source : www.kumasimail.com /Nancy Efua Aboagye
