The Minority in Parliament has criticized Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, over his recent challenge to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, for a debate ahead of the December elections.
The Majority caucus on Wednesday, July 24, supported the call for Mr. Mahama to accept Dr. Bawumia’s debate invitation, arguing that such a debate would provide Ghanaians with a chance to compare the two parties and assess who is better suited to manage the economy.
However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, dismissed the idea, asserting that a “driver’s mate” [referring to Bawumia] was not qualified to debate an experienced driver [Mahama].
He suggested that the Vice President should first debate the caucus’ spokespersons on the economy and budget before considering a debate with the former president.
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized that Dr. Bawumia lacks the experience to match Mr. Mahama, making a debate unnecessary at this time. According to him, the disparity in experience between the two politicians is too significant to justify a direct debate.
“Mr. Speaker, monkeys they say play by sizes. Mr. Speaker, how can a driver’s mate debate an experienced driver? Mr. Speaker, in this house, the spokesperson for the minority on the issues of finance is Honourable Adongo. The spokesperson for the minority for the issues of the economy is Honourable Kwaku Ricketts Hagan and the spokesperson for the budget for the minority is Honourable Ampem Darko.”
“Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Chairman of the Economic Management Team is the Vice President, so the Vice President can only debate Honourable Adongo. He should debate Honourable Adongo or debate Honourable Ricketts Hagan.”
“A driver’s mate cannot debate an experienced driver. Mr. Speaker that is the fact. So, we throw the challenge, he should debate Honourable Adongo first, Honourable Ampem second, Honourable Ricketts Hagan third before he considers debating former president John Mahama,” he insisted.