The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has defended its decision to organize presidential debates, asserting that these debates play a crucial role in strengthening Ghana’s democracy.
In response to criticisms from the Mahama 2024 campaign team, the IEA emphasized that the debates are intended to foster democratic dialogue and should be viewed as a positive contribution to the electoral process.
The Mahama campaign had criticized the IEA’s recent announcement about the presidential debates, accusing the think tank of favoring a particular political party and alleging a lack of engagement with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In its statement, the IEA clarified that its goal is to ensure a focus on issues during the elections and reiterated its commitment to hosting Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
“The Debates will provide a common platform for the Presidential Candidates and Vice- Presidential Candidates to discuss various aspects of the nation’s development process. It will be a form of policy dialogue engagement during which the Candidates will have the opportunity to present their viewpoints, plans and programmes, and also point out weaknesses in the policies of their co-contestants and present alternatives to those policies and programmes.
“The Electorate on the other hand, will receive firsthand information on the programmes and plans of each candidate. Our moderators will pose questions to the Candidates based on submissions received from the public on various thematic areas including the Economy, Governance, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Education, Health, Labour, Gender, Children, Youth, and other Social Issues. The timelines for the Debates will be announced at the launch of IEA’s Election Activities. The Institute encourages all Candidates to take advantage of the Debates to inform Ghanaians of their policies to address the country’s challenges.”
But John Mahama’s team said “The Constitution of Ghana does not grant the IEA any authority to organise elections-related activities. The fact that the IEA has not shown the decency or respect to at least inform the NDC of its plans raises serious questions about its motives,”.
Joyce Bawah Mogari, spokesperson for Mr. Mahama, issued a statement accusing the IEA of operating as a front for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). She claimed that the think tank’s actions are an attempt to manipulate the electoral process in favor of the ruling party.
“It is important to remind the IEA and the Ghanaian public that the NDC, led by our presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama and running mate Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, has been engaging with the citizenry for many years. Mahama’s online and offline conversations have targeted a wide range of audiences and focused on addressing the needs and concerns of the people of Ghana.
“Our well-planned engagements with various sectors of society across the country have been and continue to be extremely beneficial to the people of Ghana. This being the case, we caution the IEA against using the NDC’s name to promote their activities, as this is a blatant attempt to misrepresent our party deliberately.
“Ghanaians should remain assured that the NDC’s commitment to meaningful and respectful engagement with the people of Ghana is unwavering. We will continue to ensure that all Ghanaians’ voices are heard and their needs are addressed.”
But the IEA in a statement issued on Monday July 22 indicated that “Respectfully, in our Press Release of 17th July 2024, the IEA did not indicate that it had engaged or informed any Political Party or Presidential Candidate to participate in the Debates, Indeed, the IEA had not engaged any Political Party or Presidential Candidate before its Press Release.”
“The Institute intended to follow the Release with individual letters to the Candidates inviting them to the Debates and other activities.”
The Institute noted that the debates provide opportunities for the candidates to present their policies to the Ghanaian public, and to counter the policies of their opponents so that the electorate will make informed choices at the elections.
“In that regard, the IEA gives equal opportunity to all the Candidates Therefore, the IEA cannot be said to be fronting for any political party, in particular the NPP as is being alleged. The IEA respectfully encourages all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates to participate in the Debates which offers the platform to explain their policies and programmes to the electorate, to win their votes.”
“The Debates contribute to enhancing Ghana’s growing democracy and should be seen as such. As it always does, the IEA will be writing to the Presidential Candidates inviting them to participate in the Debates and the other activities. It is our sincere hope that all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates will participate in the planned programme,” it stated.
