The Tema East constituency chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nene Ofoe Teye-Chu Agbadiagba IV, who also works as a manager at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has joined the chorus of voices criticizing former President John Dramani Mahama’s refusal to debate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in a presidential debate.
During an interview with journalists in Ada on Wednesday, Nene Agbadiagba stated that the former president is simply avoiding what he knows would be a humiliating debate with the brilliant Dr. Bawumia.
“Mahama is running away from Bawumia,” he said, noting that Mahama’s reluctance to debate Bawumia is understandable.
“He understands that if he were to debate Bawumia, Bawumia’s superior competence would be evident, and the false claims made by the NDC and Mr. John Mahama about the Akufo-Addo government would be exposed,” he added.
Nene’s comments come after John Mahama publicly declined an opportunity to debate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, much to the disappointment of many.
Mahama argued that Bawumia himself had stated that he was a driver’s mate, suggesting that he should wait to gain more experience before considering a debate.
However, Nene Ofoe Teye-Chu Agbadiagba IV dismissed Mahama’s excuse as the weakest excuse one could give.
“You have a presidential candidate from the ruling party who is also the current Vice President of the Republic, inviting you, the opposition leader who has been making various allegations against him, to a face-to-face meeting to address these allegations, and you respond by saying he should gain more experience. What kind of joke is that?” he questioned.
Nene emphasized that Mahama’s actions “indicate that all the allegations he has made against the government are baseless and unproven.”
He urged Ghanaians to “take note of Mahama’s fear and respond accordingly whenever he makes future allegations.”
Meanwhile, the former deputy general secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho, has pledged to organize a demonstration against John Mahama if he does not accept Bawumia’s offer to debate him.