VEEPS Clash In Takoradi

Running mates of political parties with representation in Parliament, two of them women, will take their turn tomorrow in a debate on a wide range of national issues at Takoradi�s Akroma Plaza Hotel. The debate comes on the heels of a previous one in Tamale where their flag bearers engaged one another in a presidential debate which without doubt has set the tone for tomorrow�s witty episode. Both the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates are the initiatives of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA); and they are intended to deepen multiparty democracy and promote issue-based elections in Ghana. Tomorrow�s 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. encounter will provide an opportunity for the running mates to deal wittingly with issues of socio-economic importance and good governance as did their flag bearers. For the people of Ghana, it will offer a rare opportunity to assess the new faces on the political block and judge their suitability, especially the female running mates. According to a release by the IEA, �the debates will take the form of a policy dialogue at which the running mates will not only present their viewpoints and policy-directions, but point out weaknesses in the policies and programmes of their co-contestants and present alternatives.� As per a balloting by the political parties, the candidates will be seated in the following order: Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, National Democratic Congress (NDC); Cherita Sarpong-Kumankuma, Vice Presidential Candidate for the Convention People�s Party (CPP); Helen Sanorita Dzatugbe Matrevi, Vice Presidential Candidate for the People�s National Convention (PNC); and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Ghanaian electorate and public are anticipating a bout between Dr. Bawumia and Mr Amissah-Arthur given the choice of the latter by the NDC as a response to the NPP�s choice of an erudite young economist.