New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed its commitment to engage in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
According to the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP is ready to participate in the debates scheduled ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The IEA recently established a 9-member Presidential Debate Committee, chaired by Justice Sophia Akuffo, to manage interactions with political parties and ensure that the debates remain focused on substantive, issue-driven discussions that resonate with the electorate.
In a conversation with Eyewitness News, Justin Kodua highlighted the significance of these debates as a vital opportunity for political parties to communicate their visions and policies to the public.
Reflecting on past elections, where the NPP chose not to participate in similar debates in 2014 and 2016, Kodua emphasized that the party is now eager to showcase its accomplishments and provide voters with a clear comparison of each party’s offerings.
“The reason why we are interested in this debate is for us to be able to espouse what our flagbearer has been going around the country and talking about in terms of his vision for the country in the next four years.
So, if for instance in 2014 and 2016, there were reasons why the party didn’t attend but this time around the party is ready for any debate because we feel that as a nation we have made progress and also the election between the NPP and the other political parties, Ghanaians need to know what each political parties offer the best and credible manifesto,” he stated.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has shown hesitation about taking part in the upcoming debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), expressing concerns over the lack of prior consultation.
The Mahama 2024 campaign team has strongly criticized the IEA for announcing the debates without first engaging the NDC, deeming this approach unacceptable.
Nevertheless, the IEA is determined to move forward with the debates, even if the NDC decides not to participate.
Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, a key member of the Presidential Debate Committee, highlighted the IEA’s proven track record of organizing successful debates, regardless of the involvement of all political parties.
He stressed the significance of voter engagement and reiterated the IEA’s willingness to engage in further discussions with any interested political party.