NDC boycotts IEA meeting

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has boycotted meeting organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) today, to discuss the plan for this year’s presidential debate.

Information available to Citi News suggests that the party is offended by comments made against its National Organizer, Kofi Adams by the IEA Executive Director, Jean Mensa.

A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho on Wednesday stated emphatically that President John Mahama will not take part in the debate.

He said “IEA cannot disrespect the National Organiser of the party, it cannot disrespect the structures of the party. Let them continue to disrespect themselves and deal with individuals but the NDC is a much disciplined structure and nobody can disrespect us…We will not participate in the IEA debate.”

But his colleague Deputy General Secretary, George Lawson has since contradicted him on the issue saying the party is yet to take a decision on the matter. Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has sent representatives to the meeting.

The NPP had earlier expressed reservations about the debate.

A core team of the party led by acting General Secretary, John Boadu are scheduled to attend the meeting today to discuss modalities for the debate.

The party has said it will decide on participating in the presidential debate after today’s meeting.

The IEA is however unhappy with what it describes as a misrepresentation of comments made by its Executive Director about the involvement of Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh in discussions on the debate.