It’ll be absurd for Mahama not to participate in IEA debate

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Politics

28 September 2012

It’ll be absurd for Mahama not to participate in IEA debate – Asiedu Nketia

The General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia says it would have been absurd, had President Mahama refused to participate in the Institute of Economic Affairs presidential debate.

He explained that since assuming office, the president has adopted “different ways of doing things” such as the decision to engage, regularly, various flagbearers on issues of national concern.

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“He now finds himself in a situation where if he is going to invite all the other presidential candidates to engage in dialogue and there is an opportunity where all these candidates are to present themselves in a debate; it would sound very absurd if he refuses to participate,” Mr Asiedu Nketia said.

He told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story Friday that the decision to take part in the debate was a decision taken by the president himself.

Before the demise of former President Atta Mills, the NDC had insisted they would not participate in the debate. But the General Secretary explained they took that stance because they did not want to “break the tradition” where sitting presidents have declined to participate in the event.

Mr Asidu Nketia, however, said when the IEA brought another petition asking the party to rescind its decision because the President has never participated in such debates, President Mahama also “stated his reasons why he thinks we should participate in the debate”.

He acknowledged that the platform would afford the president the opportunity to outline his visions to Ghanaians.

Nevertheless, the General Secretary was emphatic that the party will consider every IEA invitation on its own merit and decide whether or not to accept the invitation irrespective of whether the party is in power or not.

He was not forthcoming when asked the impact the debate would have on the party’s fortune. “You live to see,” he said.

The presidential debate has been scheduled to take place in October 9.

From: Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com