The Minority in Parliament has criticized Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, for proposing a debate with John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of the December elections.
On July 24, the Majority caucus supported Dr. Bawumia’s call, arguing that a debate would allow Ghanaians to compare the two candidates and assess their ability to manage the economy.
However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson dismissed the idea during a parliamentary session, suggesting that Dr. Bawumia, whom he referred to as a “driver’s mate,” is not qualified to debate an “experienced driver” like Mahama.
He argued that Bawumia should first engage in debates with the NDC’s economic and budget spokespersons Honorable Adongo, Honorable Kwaku Ricketts Hagan, and Honorable Ampem Darko before considering a debate with Mahama.
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the significant experience gap between Bawumia and Mahama, implying that such a debate would be premature.
“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.