Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, a political analyst with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has described Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s call for a debate as an act of desperateness.
Dr. Otchere thinks the Vice President and flag bearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has nothing to lose at the moment, considering the dynamics on the grounds pertaining to the elections.
Knowing that he is on the verge of losing the polls, Dr. Otchere says the Dr. Bawumia has resorted to calling for a debate with the John Dramani Mahama, flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, so he can “gain some kind of currency and credibility.”
Speaking on TV3’s New Day Friday, July 12, 2024, Dr. Asante Otchere noted that it is strange that the incumbent is rather the one calling for a debate.
“I can see the desperatism[sic] in his voice. He is quite desperate and I don’t know if Mr. Mahama will want to shy away from that and if that will change the minds of Ghanaians. It may because I see that, Dr. Bawumia seems to believe that he has nothing to lose at this point in time,” he stated.
The political analyst added that “when you know you are on the verge of losing the elections, why wouldn’t I call on the opposition leader, and it is quite strange that the party that is in government is calling for debate.”
Background
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whilst addressing thousands of his supporters Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Bunkpurugu in the North East Region, said he was eagerly waiting for a debate with Mahama, but was less optimistic of its possibility because Mahama is “running away.”
“I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the country on the governance,” Bawumia said.
“But I am afraid that he is running away from a debate. His people say he doesn’t want to debate. I have never heard an opposition leader who doesn’t want to debate. But he knows I will expose the emptiness of his policies,” the NPP flag bearer added.
Dr. Bawumia added that former President Mahama and his team are unable to explain their 24-hour economy to Ghanaians, adding that he is avoiding a debate because he will be exposed.
“He says he has a 24-hour economy which he cannot explain. It is as empty as an empty barrel. He cannot explain it and none of his people can explain it. They say they will be exporting lions and elephants,” he added.
According to the Vice President, “when we meet mano a mano, we can debate, and the country will see where our policies lie and that is where we should go. We should give the country an opportunity to listen to us. If he chooses not to debate, I’ll continue to sell my policies.”
Ghana has had both presidential and vice presidential debates in past years just as in other advanced democracies.
Many, including civil society groups, have called for a debate between the two leading candidates for the contest, for Ghanaians to listen to their policies and vision for the country.
The spokesperson for the Bawumia campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, had earlier called for a debate between the two candidates. But persons in the NDC are telling the former President not to debate since it will be a waste of time.
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