The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has dismissed claims that it is fronting for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party ahead of a potential presidential debate later this year.
Responding to the Mahama 2024 Campaign’s criticism of its announcement, the IEA clarified that it would have followed its announcement of a presidential debate for this year’s general elections with an official invitation to the individuals and parties involved.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Spokesperson for the Mahama 2024 Campaign, criticized the IEA in a statement dated Friday, July 19, describing its failure to officially invite the NDC before the announcement as “completely unacceptable.”
“The Mahama 2024 Campaign strongly condemns the recent announcement by the IEA Ghana regarding a presidential debate for the 2024 elections. It is completely unacceptable that the lEA would make such an announcement without engaging or informing the National Democratic Congress, one of the major political parties in Ghana.”
But the IEA in a statement issued on Monday indicated that “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 before its Press Release.”
“The Institute intended to follow the Release with individual letters to the Candidates inviting them to the Debates and other activities.”
The Institute noted that 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 respectfully encourages all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates to participate in the Debates which offers the platform to explain their policies and programmes to the electorate, to win their votes.”
“The Debates contribute to enhancing Ghana’s growing democracy and should be seen as such. As it always does, the IEA will be writing to the Presidential Candidates inviting them to participate in the Debates and the other activities. It is our sincere hope that all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates will participate in the planned programme,” it stated.
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