The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed its readiness to engage in the presidential and parliamentary debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
This announcement was made by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.
On August 22, the IEA inaugurated a nine-member Presidential Debate Committee led by Justice Sophia Akuffo.
The committee coordinates interactions with political parties to facilitate a robust debate process focused on issue-based and people-centred discussions.
In an interview with Eyewitness News, Justin Kodua emphasized the significance of the debates as a platform for political parties to present their visions and policies to the electorate.
He noted that although the NPP chose not to participate in similar debates in 2014 and 2016, the party is now eager to showcase its achievements and offer voters a clear comparison of policy proposals.
“The purpose of our participation is to articulate the vision of our flagbearer for the next four years,” Kodua said.
“While there were reasons for not attending the debates in 2014 and 2016, we are committed to participating because we believe it is important for the electorate to understand the progress we have made and the distinct offerings of each political party.”
In contrast, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has voiced reservations about participating in the debates, citing dissatisfaction with the IEA’s approach.
The Mahama 2024 campaign team criticized the IEA for not consulting the NDC before announcing the debate schedule, labelling the move as unacceptable.
Despite the NDC’s reluctance, the IEA remains steadfast in its commitment to proceed with the debate process.
Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, a member of the Presidential Debate Committee, highlighted the IEA’s track record of successfully organizing debates, even when some parties opted out.
Dr. Ayim-Darke stressed the importance of engaging with the electorate and reaffirmed the IEA’s openness to continued dialogue with all political parties.
