IEA Postpones Presidential Debate

The candidates walk into the debate in Tamale

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Tuesday November 20, 2012.

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has announced the postponement of the second leg of the Presidential Debate that would afford the electorate opportunity to assess the policies of the four participating political parties for the December 7 general elections.

A terse statement issued in Accra yesterday by the organizing think tank said the debate which should have been held today would now be held tomorrow.

“Following the declaration of a five day national mourning period by the H.E. President for the late former Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the IEA wishes to inform the general public that the final IEA Presidential Debate has been rescheduled to Wednesday 21^st November 2012.”

 Interestingly, a similar debate staged by the Ghana Television (GTV) for the four other presidential candidates not covered by the IEA had their second debate yesterday with all the candidates participating.

According to the IEA, “This new date was arrived at in consultation with the leadership of the three parties who have expressed their full commitment to participating in the Debate:  the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP). This new date falls outside the mourning period set by H.E. the President.”

“The IEA wishes to inform the general public that all invitations issued are still valid and calls on its media partners to inform the public of the new date,” the release said.

Per the statement, it is clear that the People’s National Convention (PNC) candidate Hassan Ayariga who participated in the first debate in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, has been booted out by the organizers.

DAILY GUIDE suspects that the decision follows Mr. Ayariga’s declaration on radio that he was not going to participate in the historic event because he is indisposed and also the fact that President Mahama had declared a period of mourning for the late Vice President.

But his party executives were angered by his decision to withdraw from the debate and have warned him to rescind his decision or face their wrath.