The Flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to a debate.
According to the sitting Vice President, he is ready to debate ex-President John Mahama on the economy and governance of the country, as he believes the NPP government has superior records.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the spokesperson for the John Mahama Campaign Team, during a recent interview, firmly rejected calls for a pre-election debate between Mr. Mahama and Dr. Bawumia.
Even as calls for a discussion between the two front-runners grew, Bawah Mogtari rejected them from different stakeholders and political observers.
She praised Mahama for his extraordinary and broad understanding of general concerns.
But she was hesitant to accept the invitation to a debate, claiming that the way the government was acting at the moment made one superfluous.
She declared that she had complete faith that John Mahama would defeat any presidential contender in a debate.
But speaking at a youth connect program in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region, Dr. Bawumia taunted Mr. Mahama, saying the latter is running from a debate because he knows that the emptiness of his policies will be exposed.
“I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the governance. I am afraid that he is running away from a debate, isn’t it? His people say he doesn’t want to debate. He doesn’t want to debate because he knows I will expose the emptiness of his policies.
“He says he has a 24-hour economy that he cannot explain; it is as empty as an empty barrel. He cannot explain it, none of his people can explain. They say we will be exporting lions and elephants, but when we meet mano a mano, we can debate, and the country will see where our policies lie. That is where we should go; we should give the country an opportunity to listen to us. But if he chooses not to debate, I will sell my policies to the people of Ghana, and you will take the decision.”
