The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed its participation in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), according to the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.
On August 22, the IEA launched a 9-member Presidential Debate Committee, chaired by Justice Sophia Akuffo, to coordinate discussions with political parties ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The committee aims to foster a debate process that promotes issue-based, people-centered discussions.
In an interview, Justin Kodua emphasized the significance of these debates as a platform for political parties to present their visions and policies to the electorate.
He noted that although the NPP had opted out of similar debates in 2014 and 2016, the party is now eager to showcase its achievements and provide voters with a clear comparison of what each party offers.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed hesitancy about participating, citing dissatisfaction with the IEA’s approach.
The NDC’s Mahama 2024 campaign team criticized the IEA for not consulting the party before announcing the debates, calling the move unacceptable.
Despite this, the IEA remains committed to continuing the debate process, even if the NDC chooses not to participate.
Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, a member of the Presidential Debate Committee, highlighted the IEA’s track record of successfully organizing debates and reaffirmed the organization’s openness to further dialogue with all political parties.
