The Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, George Loh has stated that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has not erred by taking the initiative to organise a presidential and parliamentary dialogue for candidates ahead of the November polls.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Thursday heavily criticised the NCCE for announcing that it will also organize debates ahead of the November polls.
According to the IEA, a civil society organisation which has been hosting such debates over the years, the NCCE lacks the capacity and credibility to organize such event.
It has further urged the NCCE to instead focus on its core mandate of educating the public on their civic responsibilities.
But the North Dayi legislator on Eyewitness News said the NCCE is not deviating from its core mandate by deciding to organise such debates.
“I don’t think the NCCE has erred by deciding to organise debates this year…If the debates are aimed at ensuring that we have the requisite knowledge of the constitution, that we have the requisite loyalty and competencies to ensure that our rights are not abused, if they are aimed at achieving that, then they are operating within the law.”
George Loh believes that multiple platforms for debates should be encouraged “as long as the candidates have an opportunity to engage with the public.”
“Is helping presidential candidates engage with the people not part of the NCCE’s mandate? As long as the candidates will participate in it, it doesn’t matter who organises the debates,” Loh added.
He however emphasized the need for the creation of a credible platform that will give all parties an opportunity to debate.
Let’s not fight over debates The NCCE has admonished the IEA to stop creating confusion over the appropriate institution adequately resourced to organize presidential and parliamentary debates in the country.
Speaking to Citi News, Samuel Akuamoah, Deputy Commissioner at the NCCE argued that the NCCE has a broad mandate.
“It is not a fight; it is not a confrontation between the NCCE and IEA. Maybe it is a kind of misunderstanding, maybe a kind of miscommunication that has gone on and I believe we should not carry it over. We should let it stop here and let everybody understand that the NCCE is a constitutional body that has a broad mandate to do a lot of work and we are also ready to give capacity to civil society organizations and all state actors as well to also engage in terms of public education and engagement,” he added.
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