Divine Nkrumah
The proposal by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to hold a presidential debate between President Mahama and the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo in the first round due to a survey conducted has met wild criticism.
Some of the political parties have in reaction, accused the Institute of deliberately discriminating against them for their own parochial interest.
National Youth Coordinator of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Divine Nkrumah says the new policy by the IEA is a threat to Ghana's democracy, divisive and irresponsible.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Divine Nkrumah likened the new policy by the IEA to segregation and the apartheid era in South Africa, where people were discriminated against because of their colour.
The outspoken politician who said the presidential debate is nothing but a programme meant to create chaos and tension called the attention of the National Peace Council to intervene and ensure that the new policy of the IEA does not see the end of day.
According to him, the call for free and fair elections should not only be seen on election day, rather activities leading to the elections including the IEA debate should also be free, fair and transparent.
"The new policy by IEA is a threat to our democracy, divisive and I call on the National Peace Council and well meaning Ghanaians who believe in true democracy to kick against this discriminatory debate."
Divine Nkrumah noted that the institution [IEA] is working outside its own core mandate which is to deepen democracy in Ghana.
He chided the IEA for violating the constitution which recognizes multi-party democracy practice by encouraging duopoly of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Political parties, he noted, should be given equal opportunity as entrenched in the constitution.
He said it is worrying that the IEA had support from external donors to engage in their discriminatory debate.
Divine Nkrumah explained, the IEA had it all wrong to use parties with representation in Parliament as a benchmark to select candidates to participate in its presidential debate.
"IEA want to divide this country with their discriminatory debate. Instead of strengthening Ghana's democracy, you are rather threatening it. This is disrespectful.''
"IEA must come and apologise to Ghanaians because this is an insult. They are insulting the intelligence of Ghanaians; that they can't think. So you [IEA] want to tell me all things being equal, Ghanaians from the next 10-20 years will still be adamant and dogmatic that they wouldn't want to change the NDC or NPP?"
He indicated that the "special debate" for the two candidates was rather dangerous for our democracy.
The IEA he added cannot create an impression that Ghanaians are not ready to change the ruling NDC and NPP for giving Ghanaians false hope.
"Ghanaians are calling for change. When they say change is coming, they are not only calling for change but they say they want to change the status-quo. They want to change the NDC and NPP politics because they are the same. So if you claim to organise a presidential debate, why do you have to restrict it to only two candidates?" He quizzed.
Divine Nkrumah said the IEA does not have the capacity to determine which party is in good standing and even if they should do so, then both the NPP and NDC lack the credibility to be on the platform for a presidential debate.
He threw salvos at the IEA for accusing the EC of disenfranchising persons from the limited registration when they are discriminating against political parties, describing it as hypocritical.
Divine Nkrumah revealed also that the IEA failed to capture the name of Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum as the third candidate to debate Nana Addo and President Mahama.
He insisted the survey by the IEA had been skewed for reasons best known to them.
