The NPP’s Renewed Call for a Debate: An effusion of desperation Awudu Razak Jehoney

President Akufo-Addo has relaunched the NPP’s call for a presidential debate between former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

The NPP’s running mate Matthew Opoku Prempeh has also called out the NDC’s running mate Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang for a debate even in “her bedroom”.

This latest and desperate approach is not surprising, given the obvious defeat staring at the NPP in the upcoming polls.

All the polls both internationally and locally suggests that, the NPP is losing the elections, even the one sanctioned and sponsored by the presidency meekly suggested that, there was going to be a run-off, this indicate that, they know the grounds are not good for them.

Hence the deliberate renewal of the call for a debate, knowing very well that the NDC will not debate Dr. Bawumia because he does not deserve it and Ghanaians do not need it.

Political debate is necessary when there is a reason for it, any political debate under an economy as shamble as ours is nothing but a complete waste of time and it must not be entertained. The expression “desperate times call for desperate measures” was coined by a famous Greek physician called Hippocrates. Indeed the desperation and the anxiety within the camp of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are glaring and obvious. They are desperate for an opportunity to enhance their flagbearer’s dented image which Ghanaians have come to realise as a liar, dishonest and a deceitful personality.

As an assistant to our modern day Kwaku Ananse i.e. President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia thinks, he can pull one of the tricks he learnt from his boss President Akufo-Addo on the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC does not need this debate, and Ghanaians do not need it either, the only thing we need is for the vice president to concentrate on fixing the mess.

The recent persistent call for a presidential debate by Dr. Bawumia between himself and former president John Dramani Mahama is the most desperate political move I have ever witnessed since 1992. It must be flatly rejected by the leadership of the NDC. Coming events’ they say cast their shadows, empirical evidence from current events strongly suggest that, Dr. Bawumia’s political career is in tatters and in an irremediable state, he lacks integrity, he lacks credibility, he is dishonest, he is inconsistent, irresponsible and extremely deceptive. Was it not the same Dr. Bawumia who vehemently stated that President Akufo-Addo will not debate president Mahama, and that the latter must go and debate the nurses, teachers, traders etc.? What has changed for him to be now persistently and strenuously disturbing our peace with a frolicsome call for a debate which will not be in the interest of anyone except himself?

President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia are aware that, the odds are highly stacked against them going into the 2024 general elections, due to the abysmal performance of the government of which the latter is the head of the Economic Management Team, therefore he is seeking to revive his dead political career by debating John Dramani Mahama.

Let it be on record that, given the excellent performance of the former president during his recent engagement with the media, it is evident that he is not at all scared of a debate, because he is knowledgeable, on top of issues, fluent, accurate and coherent, however, political debates are for people of equal standings, and a political “mate” with a dying political career cannot debate a political guru “driver” like John Mahama.

It is important to not underestimate a desperate person like Dr. Bawumia, you never know how far they will go get what they want. Dr. Bawumia has no superior argument, he just want an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with John Mahama to suppress the discussions around corruption, state capture, economic mismanagement and the hardships Ghanaians are facing. But he should be told that “You don't win a debate by suppressing discussion; you win it with a better argument” and Dr. Bawumia has no better argument, the evidence to this is in the economic indicators.

Let it be known to the Bawumia camp that, a good leader like John Mahama can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that in the end he will come out vindicated especially with an inexperienced and dishonest persona like Dr. Bawumia, but “monkeys play by sizes”. Mahama is above Bawumia’s level in everything.

If Dr. Bawumia want Mahama to consider debating him, he should first of all debate himself about his own integrity and character traits. Dr. Bawumia should go and debate his own lectures since 2013, he should go to the media houses and answer the questions he posed in his lectures.

Dr. Bawumia should answer the questions on the current high inflation, high national debt, high exchange rates, high interest rates, the historic “hair cur” killing innocent pensioners, high and unbearable cost of living Ghanaians are currently facing.

The National Democratic Congress should NOT even conceive the thought of allowing former president Mahama to debate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, because the latter is a limping candidate desperately scanning for a non-existent opportunity to revive his dead political career. Former president Mahama should continue engaging with the masses and clearly explain the NDC’s policies and programs in a precise and concise manner.

That is what Ghanaians want, not any unnecessary and meaningless debate that will only waste our precious times.

Former president Mahama does not need to debate Dr. Bawumia for Ghanaians to know how he put the national resources into better use, leading to building universities, schools, airports, hospitals, the Accra Digital Centre, markets across the length and breadth of the country, with limited resources as compared to the NPP.

Ghanaians do not need a debate to know how better H.E. John Mahama managed the economy and how the NPP and this government mismanaged this economy. The debate will not happen, it will not be in the interest of Ghanaians but in the interest of a dishonest politician seeking to revive his dead political career.