The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has emphasized that a discussion with some political parties that intend to run for office should occur before the 2024 elections.
According to the IEA, for voters to make educated decisions, they must be able to assess the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
This viewpoint is taken amid what appears to be a dispute on the need for debates between the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
See also: Bawumia invites Mahama to a live discussion on the policies, governance, and economy
Professor Alexander Bilson Darku, a senior fellow at the IEA, disclosed in an interview with Citi FM that talks had already started with several political parties to schedule a debate by December 7.
“Let me make this very clear from the beginning. The need for debate is the right of the people. The people of Ghana ought to know what their presidential candidate, and for that matter, the party they represent, have in stock for them and so we are at a very early stage now talking to them [the political parties].
“We have our timetable and very soon it will be known to the public as to the programme that the IEA has outlined to make this all-important presidential debate come on.
“I don’t think we should go into the specifics, but I am telling you we will have it at a very good time that would be beneficial to the parties involved and the timing that would be beneficial for the nation.”
Professor Alexander Bilson Darku also mentioned that the participating parties and their candidates will be carefully selected.
“We are using the Afrobarometer criteria. It has established a threshold, and we will use it to invite the parties meeting it to participate in the debate.”
“This might be four or five parties, and their presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates will be invited to participate in the debate,” he added.
The flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged his counterpart from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to a debate ahead of this year’s election.
However, the NDC believes such a debate is unnecessary, arguing that the real issues are evident in the harsh economic conditions that Ghanaians are currently experiencing.
