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President John Dramani Mahama is calling for a debate between himself and Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party [NPP] Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to him, he needs to set records straight on some “contentious” issues raised by the NPP leader in his bid to win the election come November 7.

He said this in an interview with Accra-based TV3 on the ‘NewDay’ programme when asked if he will again debate Nana Addo before this year’s schedule presidential polls.

“I am willing to debate Nana Akufo-Addo any day, even if you call him today we will put it here . . . I don’t have problem with debating Nana [Nana Addo],” President Mahama responded.

 Adding that – “Indeed he [Nana Addo] has made a lot of contemptuous statements I would have wished that you had him here [On the show] so we debate on those issues.”

Nana Akufo Addo and his running mate, Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia have on several occasions raised issues with the governance style of the president accusing him of running down the country’s economy and bringing unbearable hardships on the citizenry.

Nana Addo recently held what he termed was the real state of the nation address after the president had delivered his mandated State of the Nations address to the house of Parliament.

Borrowed More?

His running mate, Dr. Bawumia, in February this year, claimed the current government has weakened the country's economy through reckless borrowing.

Lecturing on the topic “The Role of Financial Discipline and Investment In National Development” at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus, he stated; “First, If you sum the cost of all the loan-financed projects listed in the green book (even including those with artistic impressions, it is less than $7 billion. Meanwhile, the government has borrowed the equivalent of $37 billion so where is the rest of the money? Indeed, given the resources at its disposal, one should expect at least four times the quantum of investment that the NDC claims to have undertaken.”

False Claim

But President Mahama debunked the assertion saying most politicians go around telling lies in order to win political power.

According to him, it doesn’t make mathematical sense to say his government has borrowed $37 billion while the national debt of the nation is $24 billion.

President Mahama also indicated that he would be available for a debate during the campaign season depending on whether his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is willing to participate.

Ahead of this year’s election, it is likely the Institute of Economy Affairs [IEA] will hold a presidential debate for all aspirants including the president – this according President John Mahama will be a ‘fine’ opportunity to react to Nana Addo’s claims.

He prays his party [NDC] will accept such invitation from the IEA when served, but  

"It is not for me to say, I’m sure that the NDC party at the appropriate time, if they are invited to debate, will have to take a decision on whether they feel comfortable with whoever is organising the debate and all that, and, so, it’s not for me to say. But, like I said, I’m willing, even this afternoon, if Nana presented himself, to take him on all those contentious statements that he’s made," he added.