NDC lobbying smaller parties To boycott Tamale debate

With barely 2 days to the second presidential debate in Tamale, information reaching The Statesman deep throat sources within the NDC say the party is heavily lobbying other opposition parties to boycott the nationally advertised debate of presidential candidates of parties with representation in Parliament.

The second of the Institute of Economic Affairs-organised presidential debates schedules for Tamale on Wednesday, risked being jeopardised by the heavy lobbying behind the scenes by executives of the nation's largest opposition party.

Our sources within the Convention People"s Party and the People's National Convention say there is mounting pressure from the NDC to cancel the event they perceive as not conducive to the PR job that occurred at the first debate.

With Nana Akufo-Addo's dedicated determination to bridge the gap between the north and the south, captured in the manifesto pledge to establish a one billion dollar Northern Development Fund, a platform to speak on a personal, flesh-to-flesh basis is seen as a must-avoid event by the NDC.

The fear is that the NPP flagbearer will outshine the combative, choleric perpetual flagbearer of the NDC at a forum to explain the policies and programmes outlined in their manifestos.

After the first debate, during which some candidates, notably the CPP's Paa Kwesi Nduom played the populist but shallow card, the electorate are demanding a clear, issue-based based explanation of their plans for Ghana in the post Kufuor Ghana.

A specific plan on how to reduce the rural/urban drift and inspire the nation's youth will be an added advantage. Ghanaians are waiting.