Poll debates must be for 'credible' parties – Baah

Political Science lecturer Dr Richard Amoako Baah has proposed an alternative to the format of IEA’s presidential debates for the November polls.

The Institute of Economic Affairs revealed on Tuesday May 10 that unlike it did in previous election years, 2016’s debates will see flagbearers of parties with representation in parliament squaring off in a separate debate from those that have no MPs.

Another debate will also be held for vice-presidential candidates, while another separate debate will be held between the two frontrunners. The arrangement will, thus, see President Mahama square off with opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo in a one-on-one encounter, different from what happened in previous debates.

But Dr Amoako Baah has suggested that since the debate is to enable the voter make a choice between presidential candidates, an initial one should be held among the main parties contesting the election, before the one-on-one between the two frontrunners.

“What I will suggest is that they should do all of them together, then they can do at least two: Mahama-Akufo-Addo, Mahama-Papa Kwesi Nduom. The two biggest opposition parties, they should do it that way. That’s what I will say,” the academic submitted on Accra News on Tuesday May 10 in an interview with Nana Ama Agyarko.

“Not all parties should be involved, but parties that are credible, those which have a good chance of doing well, lest it becomes a distraction which prevents you from attaining the objective you set out to achieve.”

He, however, said there could be yet another debate organised for the other parties who scored much less in the last presidential election to “get the opportunity to be heard” in order for them to “grow”. “It’s a balancing act,” he added.