We'll prefer to build capacity of NCCE than IEA - NDC

Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho says the party will rather build the capacity of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) than that of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in organising presidential debates for presidential candidates.

His comments comes on the heels of statements made by Executive Director of the IEA Mrs. Jean Mensa that the NCCE lacks the capacity to organise presidential debates and that the IEA "have been tried and tested since 2000 and I’m not sure anybody at all will doubt our credibility and the independence of the platform that we offer."

The NCCE has said that they will consider organising a presidential debate for this year's election but the IEA says NCCE must focus on its core mandate of educating the citizens on “their civic responsibilities and duties” since that is “a big challenge and a mandate” in a crucial election year.

However, Koku Anyidoho in an interview with the morning show host on Rainbow Radio, Kwame Tutu said, "to the extent that she says that the NCCE does not have the capacity to hold presidential debates, we will prefer to build the capacity of a state institution than to continue to build the capacity of a private institution for that private institution to turn round and derived state institutions.

"Koku Anyidoho explained, although the party has not officially stated its position on either to boycott or participate in the debate, the posture and statements from the IEA is disturbing for them as a political party.

"We haven't come out with an official position...all we are saying is that, to an extent that Mrs. Jane Mensa says that she has been speaking to people who are more important than the party structures, she should continue dealing with those people who are important than the party,"he stated.

The NDC reportedly boycotted a meeting which was scheduled by the IEA to discuss with the party modalities for the planned debate.