CPP, PNC threaten to withdraw from IEA debates if . . .

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) have expressed surprise and disappointment over the fact that no consultation was done by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to arrive at the modalities for this year‘s presidential debates.

They have therefore cautioned that if  no adequate consultations are done to arrive at the modalities governing the debate they may have to withdraw from this year‘s debates.

According to the two parties, it took them by surprise the way and manner in which the IEA went about  the launch of its presidential  and vice-presidential debates programme on Tuesday.

The IEA has slated this year’s presidential and vice-presidential debates for September and October for political parties with representation in Parliament. 

The debate, the fifth to be consecutively organised by the IEA, is meant to provide candidates a platform to outline their vision and policies for the governance of the country.

As part of this new initiative, the institute will also organise a presidential debate for all presidential candidates who do not have representation in Parliament.  There will also be evening interactions with the presidential candidates and town hall meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs).

The parties with representation in Parliament participating in the exercise are the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC). Already, the four political parties have elected their flag bearers for this year’s election.

The presidential candidates are President John Dramani Mahama for the NDC, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, PNC, and Mr Kobina Ivor Greenstreet, CPP.

Inception of debate

From  the inception of the debate in 2000 to the last one in 2012, the PNC and the CPP have been very active and participated fully in the exercise as part of efforts to consolidate multiparty democracy and promote issues-based elections in the country.

The debates are expected to go a long way to empower Ghanaians to demand accountability from those who want to lead them. 

The success of the 2016 election will mark 24 years of uninterrupted constitutional rule in Ghana. This will be another milestone.

CPP/PNC reaction 

However, the CPP and the PNC are of the view that a broader consultation on the modalities governing the conduct of the debates would have been more helpful.

According to the National Chairman of the CPP, Prof Edmund Delle, the party was very much surprised at the decision of the IEA, since it was not consulted on the modalities and timing.

“How can the IEA determine that the September and October slated dates for both the presidential and vice-presidential debates  sit well with our programmes for Election 2016,” he asked.

He also critisised the IEA for being discriminatory in favour of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“It would have been a great idea to consult political parties  to agree on the modalities for the debate. As it stands now, the modalities seem to favour the NDC and the NPP and this is discriminatory,” Prof. Delle pointed out, saying that “in multiparty democracy there is no room for discrimination”.

On the way forward, Prof. Delle said it was not too late to begin the process of dialogue and consensus for the modalities for the debates.

He recalled that in the 2012 debate, it was the CPP’s candidate, Dr Abu Sakara, that came out tops among the four presidential debators of President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP and Hassan Ayariga of the PNC.

“The general consensus was that it was the CPP’s presidential candidate that came up on top even though CPP was not the ruling party,” he argued

He said the CPP had been very supportive of the IEA’s activities because the institute had been supportive of the country’s democratic dispensation but cautioned that if there was no consultation on the modalities for the debate, then the CPP might withdraw from the exercise.

The Communication Director of the PNC, Mr Emmanuel Wilson, said  the party expected that the IEA would have  involved it in the development of the modalities for the debates.

“Unfortunately they did not do that,  which shows gross disrespect for the PNC as a political party,” he stated.

Multiparty democracy

“Again what we have heard about the debates is that they are going to be on different platforms with the NDC and the NPP having one platform while the other political parties would be hosted on another platform. It is a clear indication that the IEA does not believe  in multiparty democracy.

“Formally the IEA did not bring an  invitation to us but if they should and the invitation contained what we heard, then  they should be rest assured that the PNC will not be part of such an activity,’’ he said.

Mr Wilson also called on the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)  as an institutional body to be up and doing  so that it could create a credible platform for all political parties  to be able to educate the public on the policies  of the political parties.

The PNC challenged other political parties that if they believed in multiparty democracy then they should  not support any act that did not  encourage it.