Mahama, NDC officially boycott IEA debates

The governing National Democratic Congress has directed all of its candidates [Presidential and Parliamentary] not to participate in any debate organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) ahead of the November polls.

A statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah stated that the decision was taken by the NDC’s Funcational Executive Committee.

“The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has, at its Functional Executive Committee (FEC), Meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, decided not to participate in any debate to be organized by the Institute Of Economic Affairs (IEA), as far as it is related to the 2016 General Election,” the statement added.

Asiedu Nketia also charged all NDC party structures to comply with the directive.

The NDC have not been happy with the IEA's decision to hold a separate debate for flagbearers for the two leading political parties, NPP and NDC as well as what they term as IEAs lack of consultation ahead of its debates.

The IEA had earlier said the NDC's non- participation will not affect their plans in any way, however, Executive Director at the institute, Jean Mensah while speaking to  journalists in Accra after PNC's Dr. Edward Mahama took his turn at the Evening Encounter Series on Tuesday, said the platform is still open to all candidates.

“We would like to take the opportunity to invite all the presidential candidates. I think this is an independent credible platform and the nation and the electorates are eager to hear from all the presidential candidates and we would like to encourage all of them to mount this platform to present their vision on this independent and credible platform, to answer questions from a broad section of the electorates. We hope that in the coming weeks we will hear from all of them,” she added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin