Special Aide and Spokesperson for the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has addressed the political motivations for the derogatory remarks made by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when he called for a debate with John Mahama.
The Spokesperson expressed her disapproval of Dr. Bawumia’s derogatory comments about Mahama’s policies, questioning the suitability of someone who dismisses significant policies.
“To the extent that he had the temerity to describe one of Mahama’s policies as empty, is this the man we would like to hand the country over to?” Mogtari questioned.
“Dr. Bawumia’s whole campaign is pivoting around Mahama. If he is not mentioning Mahama’s name, then he is not speaking at all.
“If he doesn’t get anything to speak regarding Mahama’s past government, he is not able to communicate his campaign,” Mogtari argued.
Mogtari also voiced concerns about the timing of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) release for a presidential debate, labeling it as “very conventional and politically motivated that even the IEA acknowledged the inappropriate timing of the debate, especially given Ghana’s highly partisan political environment.
“The timing of their debate is inappropriate, especially in a politically partisan environment as the one we are currently experiencing,” she stated during an interview with Nana Yaa Brefo on Onua FM, July 22.
Despite these challenges, Mogtari stressed that participating in debates has never been an issue for John Mahama as “history proves that debate is not a challenge for Mr. Mahama,” she noted.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has underscored the importance of hosting a debate before the 2024 elections, involving several political parties intending to participate.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 17, the IEA highlighted that these debates are crucial for voters to assess both presidential and vice-presidential candidates to aid informed decision-making.
While the exact date for the debate has not yet been determined, the IEA confirmed that it will take place before the December 7 election.
The timeline for the debates will be revealed during the launch of IEA’s election activities.
The debates will cover various thematic areas, including the economy, governance, natural resources, agriculture, education, health, labour, gender, children, youth, and other social issues.
It is however unclear if the two major parties will participate in the debate.
