Call for Presidential Debate: IEA replies Mahama’s campaign

The Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) has reacted to criticism levelled against it by the campaign team of the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, after it announced its intention to hold presidential and vice-presidential debates for the 2024 election.

In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, the IEA refuted assertions that it wants to use the debate to manipulate the electoral processes in favour of a particular political party.

It pointed out that it has not notified any political party of the debate and planned to issue invitation letters right after the announcement of the debates.

It added that it has been organising presidential and vice-presidential debates in the country since 2000.

“The IEA is on record as having initiated Presidential Debates in this country (in the year 2000), and has consistently pursued this noble public-spirited function with integrity, with the exception of 2020 where no Debates were organised because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Respectfully, in our Press Release of 17th July, 2024, the IEA did not indicate that it had engaged or informed any Political Party or Presidential Candidate to participate in the Debates. Indeed, the IEA had not engaged any Political Party or Presidential Candidate prior to its Press Release. The Institute intended to follow the Release with individual letters to the Candidates inviting them to the Debates and other activities,” part of the statement which was issued on Monday, July 22, 2024 reads.

It added, “The Debates provide opportunities for the candidates to present their policies to the Ghanaian public, and to counter the policies of their opponents so that the electorate will make informed choices at the elections. In that regard, the IEA gives equal opportunity to all the Candidates. Therefore, the IEA cannot be said to be fronting for any political party, in particular the NPP as is being alleged.”

The IEA also encouraged all presidential and vice-presidential candidates to participate in the debates since they offer them the platform to explain their policies and programmes to the electorate, to win their votes.

The campaign team of Mahama had accused the IEA of acting as a proxy for the ruling New Patriotic Party, allegedly manipulating the electoral process to favour their agenda.

Reacting to an earlier announcement by the IEA to conduct presidential and vice-presidential debates between the two political parties, NPP and NDC respectively, spokesperson for the campaign team Joyce Bawah Mogtari, in a statement, said Ghana’s constitution does not grant the IEA the power to organize elections-related activities.

Joyce Bawah described the decision by IEA to make such an announcement without first engaging and consulting the NDC as ‘unacceptable’.

“It is completely unacceptable that the IEA would make such an announcement without engaging or informing the National Democratic Congress, one of the major political parties in Ghana.

“The Constitution of Ghana does not grant the IEA any authority to organize elections-related activities. The fact that the IEA has not shown the decency or respect to at least inform the NDC of its plans raises serious questions about its motives.

“The IEA is clearly acting as a front for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and seeks to manipulate the electoral process in favor of the ruling party,” parts of the statement read.

Read the full statement bey the IEA below: