The IEA has inaugurated a 10-member Presidential Debate Committee (PDC) under the chairmanship of former first Vice President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prof Akua Kuenyehia, to organize two presidential debates and another debate for running mates ahead of the November polls.
Inaugurating the committee, a senior fellow at the IEA, Prof Atsu Ayee, indicated that the committee would be responsible for the overall conduct of the debates, including moderator and question selection.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) introduced the culture of Presidential Debates to Ghana in 2000. Since then, debates have been held in every election year and have become a part of Ghana’s politcla history.
Since 2008, the IEA has constitued a Presidential Debates committee in each election year to assist the institute with the planning and organizstion of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates.
On Tuesday the 16th of June, 2016 the IEA inuagrated the 2016 Presidential Debate Committee. The committee is made up of the eminent Ghanaians who have distinguished themselves in various spheres of public life. The 10 member presidential debates committee is Chaired by Justice Prof. Akua Kenyehia, former First Vice President of the Internaitonal Criminal Court (ICC). The other memebrs of the committee are:
1. Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference
2. Alhaji Mama Gado Mohammed, Representative of the national Chief Imam
3. Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyina, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost
4. Alhaji Maulvi Bin Salih, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission
5. Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director of Abantu for Development
6. Justice Emilia Short, Former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
7. Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, Gernal Secretary of the Chrisitan Council
8. Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, Director of the legon Center for international Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD)
9. Mrs. Jean Mensa, Executive Director of the institute of Economic Affairs.
The presidential debates committee (PDC) will have at least eight (8) meetings ahead of the presidential debates which commences in September 2016. The committee shall work with the IEA to undertake the following assignments:
· Assist the IEA with the organization of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates.
· Review collated questions from the general public
· Select Moderators each of the Debates
· Review and approve guidelines for the Moderators
· Review and approve the formal and guidelines for the Presidential Debates
· Review and approve the presidential debates brochure
· Issue press statements/releases relating to the presidential debates as and when necessary
· Undertake any other duties that it consider relevant to the 2016 debates
· The Institute is confident that the president debates committee will work to serve the interest of the good people of Ghana.
We hope that together with the media, political parties, civil society and the public an issue based and violence free election will be achieved.
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