Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the spokesperson for the John Mahama Campaign Team, has firmly rejected calls for a pre-election debate between the NDC flagbearer and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the NPP. 

Despite growing appeals from political analysts and various stakeholders, Bawah Mogtari dismissed the idea of a debate between the two prominent contenders.

During an interview on Channel One TV on Monday, July 8, Bawah Mogtari lauded Mahama’s exceptional and extensive knowledge on general issues.

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She, however, hesitated to accept an invitation for a debate, citing the current state of the government’s performance as rendering such a debate unnecessary. 

She expressed supreme confidence in John Mahama’s ability to outshine any presidential aspirant in a debate scenario.

The former Deputy Transport Minister emphasised that the key issues for the 2024 general election are well-known to Ghanaians, suggesting that there is little appetite among voters for a formal debate.

Madam Bawah Mogtari underscored the campaign team's strategic focus on other forms of engagement and communication with the electorate.

“I personally have no appetite for a debate…When I look at what we have, when I look at the current trajectory, when I look at the failings of this particular administration, I ask myself 'why do we need to put up with a debate'? But of course, this is a decision that the upper people usually will make.

“It’s not my decision to make, as the debates and conversations go along, maybe eventually some conversations will happen around it, who knows?

“We do know all about the debates between John Mahama and then candidate Akufo-Addo and we know who won those debates. So, I believe that the fact that Mr Mahama is a man whose energy and knowledge is unparallel is not in doubt. And I’m sure on any day, whomever, I know he’s going to win the debate. But I don’t think that immediately I will want to see that,” she maintained.