Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okujeto Ablakwa says NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to chicken out of an invitation to debate President Mahama is a testimony of the long held view among the generality of Ghanaians that Nana Addo is no match for the President.
He said unlike Nana Addo, president Mahama is very much on top of his brief to the extent that he (President Mahama) is rather having to chase Nana Addo for a debate which is unprecedented.
The Deputy Minister said he believes Nana Akuffo Addo is not interested in debating president Mahama for fear that the numerous falsehoods he’s peddling will be exposed through such an exercise.
“This is a significant development in our country’s democratic journey because this is the first time a sitting president is rather requesting for a debate with his main political arch rival. This has never happened before and I think the president has to be commended for that. This shows president Mahama is on top of his brief, he is confident, and more important is very clear in mind where Ghana is at the moment and where he intends to take this country.”
President Mahama who had turned down an IEA proposal for a debate between him and the opposition leader has over the past few weeks been pushing for a one-on-one challenge with the three-time flagbearer.
He told the Volta Star in an interview Thursday that such a debate will enable him and Nana Addo to justify the claims they are both making on the performance of the economy.
But the NPP has described the President’s call as hypocritical. They argue the President should have taken up the IEA debate request if he was interested in debating their candidate.
Spokesperson for the NPP presidential candidate Mustapha Hamid has told the media they are not ready to debate the president now since their focus is on the campaign.
According to him the president cannot pick and choose when and where he wants to have a debate with Nana Akuffo and expect that everything will come to stand still just to accept his invitation.
But speaking on good morning Ghana on Accra based Metro Tv, Mr Okujeto Ablawka said the NPP’s excuse is untenable because the president has never said he will never debate Nana Addo. He explained that the decision not to participate in the IEA debate was a party decision because the party had issues with the platform.
“We never said we will never debate Nana Addo. The IEA didn’t organize the debate well in our view and so we decided not to participate. How can that be interpreted to mean that we run away? There are other equally qualified state agencies that are capable of organizing a debate and as we speak we are getting a lot of invitation from other organization including some faculties at the University of Ghana who have formerly written to us for our participation in a debate. Why does it have to be the IEA as if to say they are the only institution capable of doing it” he said.
He adds that the NPP must admit their party’s flag bearer doesn’t have what it takes to debate the sitting president and no amount of excuses will justify the decision not to participate.
“Like I said Nana Addo has only confirmed the long held perception that he can’t debate president Mahama and so has only found an excuse to chicken out of such an important exercise. The man has been going round peddling all kinds of falsehood about the president and his administration and now that he has an opportunity to come and correct these misinformation he is running away? It’s a bad decision in my view”
Source: Citizens Mail
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Shout up . Go and do something about your teeth . Your ***barred word*** face . ***barred word***
Your boss Mahama has now noticed that nana Addo has become very popular and so wants that popularity to campaign. Billboards, propaganda and vote buying could not save you. Sorry, Mr. President, it's too late. Your co-equals are past presidents. Soon u will become a past president. Go and consult them. Saagyewa!
eiiiiii what a calypo power!!! herrr Nana Addo wo y3 popular! why should the President debate Nana Addo? or he want to join the winning team? how Mr President? Are you that desperate? i thought you were winning the election and that you didn't care much? Anyway i wish you a loosing election come Dec7.
Does he realize well meaning Ghanaians,professors, technocrats n the wise men laugh at his way of thinking? Funny boy
On the 29th of September, 2016, it was reported in the ghanadecide.com that "the NDC may reconsider the boycott of IEA debate". This Is an attempt to wash away their shame but it will not wash. Truly the throne of Babylon has gone down and nothing shall change it. Nana will come and Mahamah will learn a great learn learn a great lesson for his future career. Change Is here#
Masa go and sit down,why did your president chicken out in the first debate? Does he think he can decided for everyone anytime he Likes? Or do you people think nana addo is his small boy whom he can call anytime he want? It's too late for you guys and we will vote you out pure and simple...Come to think of it,why does the ndc like using the word unprecedented?everything is now unprecedented under ndc,no wonder Mahama's incompetence is unprecedented. Very soon bo..nking your wives will be unprecedented.
JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO JM TWASOOO TWASO
After Mahama was told by the USA research group that he is loosing the election; he now wants something to hang on.Mahama said and i quote " I NEED TO DEBATE Akufu Addo " . It was at this point that i realized something is coming and its too close for mahama to be comfortable. I even hear that he has stopped the whisky in the flask because defeat is looming.
Tell JDM if he is ready a serial caller is prepared for the debate whenever wherever what is the debate about what has done what he will do right?
RABBIT TEETH