The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly indicated that it may not participate in the presidential debate organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

The National Organizer of the party, Kofi Adams criticized the think-tank for failing to consult the party on the programme.

“IEA cannot just announce a programme, it has not engaged the party on. We are surprised… So if the party has their own programme how are you going to organize it”?

The IEA barely 24 hours ago had revealed that it is considering holding a separate debate for the presidential candidates of the two major political parties; NDC and NPP.

The estranged relationship between the IEA and the governing party is an open secret. The NDC has branded the civil society body as an appendage of the opposition NPP.

In 2015, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia criticized the IEA for denying him the opportunity to contribute to a discussion on corruption.

Kofi Adams said the IEA has various platforms for leaders of all political parties one of which the Chairman of the NDC chairs. He said the party expected the IEA to consult their leader before making pronouncements on the debate.

Kofi Adams suspects that the IEA  discriminated against the NDC by failing to consult it. “You don’t go and engage one side and leave the other” he said.

The party rejected suggestions that it is posturing to abandon the debate opportunity.

He reminded the IEA that the NDC is the first political party in power to accept to participate in a presidential debate.

John Mahama engaged three other presidential candidates in the 2012 debate in Tamale in the Northern region. But President John Kufuor turned down the opportunity in 2004 when the NPP was in power.

Kofi Adams said once again, their presidential candidate John Mahama has indicated his willingness to battle their main rival Akufo-Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

John Mahama and Akufo-Addo

The NDC National Organiser said a debate will afford the party to deal with the propaganda campaign of its rival.

But the NDC is not mandated to participate in IEA debates. If any such debate is to come on, the proper procedure must be followed, he indicated.

“We are a serious political party” Kofi Adams said.

The NDC, he said, will meet to consider joining the IEA debate.

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