The General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Asiedu Nketia has dispelled claims that President John Dramani Mahama is running away from the intellectual prowess of the opposition leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) believe Nana Addo will be punching holes in his policies and achievements of the president should he show up for the debate, hence his decision to boycott the Institute of Economic Affairs’ (IEA) presidential encounter.
They contend that Nana Addo would have floored the President if he had agreed to mount the IEA debate platform because he does not want to risk his chance of retaining power, he has opted out.
But speaking on the Ultimate breakfast show with Lantam Papanko, Mr. Nketia explained that it was rather the President who threw a challenge to battle the opposing leader on pressing issues in the country.
According to him, the NDC party and President Mahama have boycotted the IEA debate primarily because its officials have shown gross disrespect to the party.
‘The President is not running away, he is already accounting to the people, and some of the people are saying he shouldn’t be accounting to the people, if the president is afraid of his record, why would he be accounting to the people and touring the country, and remember it was the President who threw the challenge that he wanted a debate exclusively with Nana Addo so that there will be an opportunity to expose some of his lies and then half truths. If the NDC is scared of a debate why would it suggest one,’ he explained.
He indicated that the party is willing to debate Nana Addo if other bodies apart from IEA organise a debate laced with mutual understanding and respect.
‘We don’t need the IEA or particular organisation to market our manifesto, they shouldn’t behave as if they have the exclusive rights to market our manifesto for us,’ he fumed.
By: Dan Kwasi Prince// www.dailyviewgh.com
Writer’s email dailyviewgh@gmail.com
