The Mills for President Campaign Team has expressed regret that Mr J.A. Kufuor, flagbearer of the NPP, will not debate Professor John Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the NDC.

Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Campaign Manager for Mr Kufuor, said last Friday in a JOY FM programme - Front Page - that the NPP flagbearer would not debate Prof. Mills. A statement issued by the NDC and signed by Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the Team's Communications Co-ordinator, said the debate aims to give the two candidates an opportunity to present their vision, policies, programmes and promises to the people of Ghana to enable them to make an informed choice.

The statement said Mr Obetsebi Lamptey did not give any valid explanation as to why Mr. Kufuor would not debate Prof. Mills. However, "political analysts are of the view that Mr. Kufuor's handlers are attempting to shield him from allowing the Ghanaian people to get to know the real Mr. Kufuor who wants to be their President".

The statement quoted Prof. Mills as saying: "It is unfortunate that Mr. Kufuor is unwilling to accept our offer to present ourselves to the people of Ghana so that the people can make an informed choice based on our specific vision, policies, programmes and promises".

It said Mr. Spio-Garbrah, who was speaking on the same programme, explained that presidential debates are important in that they do not simply judge a candidate's oratorical or argumentative ability but an opportunity for the electorate to judge how their leaders will solve specific problems.

The statement recalled that when the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) organised a presidential debate a week before the December 7 elections, Mr Kufuor turned down the invitation, compelling Prof. Mills to also stay away even though he had wanted to participate.