The governing New Patriotic Party has rejected an invitation to a debate between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama on their infrastructure records.
According to National Organiser of the NPP Sammy Awuku, the governing party will fight for the votes of Ghanaians on its own terms and not the terms of the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“I’m not too sure what Mr Mahama wants us to do. We have our own campaign strategy, we have our own campaign plans and the NPP will go according to its own strategy. We don’t need a debate to tell you that these are tangible things happening across the country,” Mr. Awuku told Accra based Joy fm monitored by dreamzfmonline.com.
Former President Mahama has challenged his contender Nana Akufo-Addo to a debate following a Townhall meeting addressed by Vice President Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia touting the achievements of the NPP government in terms of infrastructure.
Addressing Chiefs and party supporters in Ho West, the NDC flagbearer said “It’s easy to settle the issue of infrastructure. After all, the President said this election is going to be an election of track records, comparing his track records to my track records. We can settle it easily: Let’s have a debate between the two of us”.
In a response to the challenge thrown by the former President, Sammy Awuku forcefully argued that having a debate is needless while demanding that the NDC put forward data to challenge what has been presented by the Vice President.
“We want Mr. Mahama or his running mate to put forward another data-driven presentation to counter what Dr. Bawumia did. Let’s set that ground rules first and then we can move to the next stage,” he stated.
Meanwhile, President of IMANI Africa Franklin Cudjoe has stated his outfit’s readiness to facilitate the debate between the two leaders.
“It is important for this to happen especially because of the issue around value for money. We at IMANI and I’m sure you at Joy fm will be ready to get this done,” he said.
He expressed hope that though spokespersons of the President have rejected the invitation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo may consider the challenge.
