Powerful stalwart of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has said that Ghana does not need a presidential debate between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because President Nana Akufo-Addo and former President John Mahama are being assessed on their performances already.
He argued that since both candidates have governed the country before, assessing their performances in office with respect to their promises is a good enough basis for the electorate to decide on whom to vote for in the upcoming December 7, 2020 elections.
Former President John Mahama had challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo to a public debate, saying it will be a good platform for them to speak to their record as Presidents of the country.
President Akufo-Addo has not accepted the challenge. Many NPP activists have downplayed the importance of a debate at this point in time, explaining that their performances in office as President speak to their competence as Presidents, and based on that Ghanaians can make informed choices.
But after yesterday’s presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, leading candidates in the United States of America elections, NDC supporters are reminding the President and the NPP of the debate former President Mahama had called for.
In response, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, known and described unofficially as Ghana Prime Minister for supposedly wielding power in this current government, declared that such a debate will not take place.
“The NDC are desperate for a presidential debate. The debate is already out there and will continue same way to be about the performances of the two leading candidates as presidents as measured against their promises then and now,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, NDC supporters, especially on social media are insisting that the debate must happen, accusing President Akufo-Addo of running away from the debate for having an inferior record to that of John Mahama.
