NDC reasons for boycotting IEA debate 'dim' - Lecturer

A political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mohammed Abass has described as weak, reasons given by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for boycotting the presidential debate organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The NDC officially announced that they will not participate in the 2016 IEA presidential debates.

According to a statement signed by the party's General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, they took the decision at the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

“The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has, at its Functional Executive Committee (FEC) meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, decided not to participate in any debate to be organised by the Institute Of Economic Affairs (IEA) as far as it is related to the 2016 General Election,” the statement added.

All party executives are to strictly comply with the directive, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said.

The NDC have described as bias, the IEA’s decision to hold a separate debate for flagbearers for the two leading political parties, NPP and NDC. They have also made claims that the IEA failed to consult them ahead of the debates.

But responding to the reasons given by the NDC, Mohammed Abass opined that the reasons are not so strong.

The IEA platform, he explained, is an independent platform to offer political parties and their candidates a platform to engage with the electorates on their vision for the country.

The political science lecturer was of the view that the platform is not to the benefit of the IEA, but the entire nation hence the reason why the NDC should have shelved their 'ego' and participate in the debate.

As a ruling party, he said the NDC should have shown maturity in engaging with the IEA and dialogue to see how best to resolve the differences and challenges that were raised.

The decision by the NDC, he added, is an affront to democracy and will not help considering how far the country has come politically.

Asked whether the decision by the IEA to hold two separate debates for the NPP's Nana Addo and NDC's President Mahama was a good one, he said; ideally, it was a good one explaining that it will afford Ghanaians an opportunity to access the two candidates on their policies and vision.

Mohammed Abass said the debates involving all the candidates do not necessarily create the needed impact.

"Ghanaians are aware that after every election, the choice is either NPP or NDC. When you put all the results from all the other candidates together, it does not come close to that of the NDC and NPP; and so it was objective for such a decision."

Asked if it will be best other institutions organise such debates, he said yes, as it will gather more momentum and prevent the attacks on the IEA by political parties.

Mohammed Abass concluded, the decision by the NDC is more of a personal interest than national interest.

Meanwhile, the IEA says they are unaware that the NDC have boycotted the debate.

Since 2000, IEA has organised the Presidential Debates prior to Ghana’s general elections.

The platform has seen aspiring presidential candidates answer questions on job creation, agriculture, healthcare, private sector development, energy sector, taxation, retail trading and education.

In 2012, flag bearers of all registered political parties with representation in parliament were featured in the debate.