Former President John Mahama has once again thrown a challenge to his successor President Akufo-Addo to debate him prior to the December election.

He said since they have both had a taste of the presidency, there is a common basis to debate whose track record is better.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer said the President is running away from debate because he has nothing to show for his time in office.

"You say this election is about track records and I welcome that...yes it is about track record and we both have one as Presidents. What is wrong with us sitting down and talking about that?" he quizzed on the Class FM Breakfast Show, Monday.

"So I will invite him again...I think he should ignore Sammi Awuku and all the others and just come out boldly and let's talk about our track records. It will be for the benefit of Ghanaians," Mr Mahama said.

He believes this will give Ghanaian electorates a clearer picture of who they want to lead the country again from 2021.

Last month, Mr Mahama said the NDC has a more superior record of providing an equitable distribution of development projects across the country than the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He reiterated his readiness to debate the President on all issues whenever the President decides but his invitation for debate was rejected.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) mounted a defence on why it has refused to accept the challenge.

In an interview with Joy FM’s, Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide described the debate challenged as unnecessary since the citizens have witnessed immense development under the leadership of the incumbent government.

According to him, the NDC flagbearer is adopting a ‘desperate’ but ‘smart’ way to deceive Ghanaians.

The party also said Mr Mahama while in office avoided debating Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016.

But Mr Mahama explained that he never ran away from debating the then-NPP candidate.

"I was the first incumbent to do a debate in 2020 with all my contenders including then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. In 2016, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) wanted to conduct the debate and we had a problem with the Institute so we said we were not going to participate in an IEA debate.

"But we made it clear we were willing to debate in any debate organised by an independent or neutral body. And so in 2016, a debate was held with all the other contenders and it was only Nana Akufo-Addo who declined to debate," he explained.

The opposition NDC flagbearer said a day after the debate, "Nana Akufo-Addo was on Peace FM having his own debate with himself."