The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has emphasised the need for a debate before the 2024 elections, involving some of the political parties planning to contest.
The IEA believes such debates are essential for voters to evaluate both presidential and vice-presidential candidates, enabling informed decision-making.
This stance comes amid apparent disagreement between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the necessity of holding debates.
In an interview with Citi FM, Professor Alexander Bilson Darku, a senior fellow at IEA, revealed that discussions have already begun with various political parties to organize a debate before 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 that threshold to invite the parties that meet the threshold 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.
Latest Stories
-
UK stabbing: Victim of Manchester knife attack named as Alberta Obinim
6 mins -
460,611 candidates kick off WASSCE today
17 mins -
Off-duty police officer arrested for alleged murder in Accra
41 mins -
Speak to issues of unfulfilled promises – Thomas Musah tells Bawumia
44 mins -
GH¢61bn loan given to state agencies by gov’t not recovered – Auditor General’s Report
47 mins -
Drive national development through exemplary leadership – St Monica graduates told
1 hour -
2024 Future Engineers STEM & Innovation BootCamp Season 2 comes to an end
1 hour -
NDC Zongo Youth Caucus targets Ashanti Region votes
1 hour -
Stonebwoy shuts down Central and Bono Regions with thrilling back-to-back performances
1 hour -
I’m working on a new music project with Kwame Yeboah – Esther Smith
1 hour -
Guggenheim Museum screens Nii Kwate Owoo’s ‘You Hide Me’
1 hour -
NCCE urges media to combat misinformation ahead of December elections
1 hour -
Armed robbers kill two at Welembelle in Sissala East
1 hour -
Alkians Entertainment celebrates successful music seminar as Sugar Kwame sets incubator scheme for artistes
1 hour -
Firefighters avert fuel tanker disaster at Odorkor [Photos]
1 hour