General News of Tuesday, 4 November 2008

Source: GNA

Vice presidential candidates to debate on Nov. 20

Accra, Nov. 4, GNA - Vice presidential candidates of the four parties with representation in parliament will have their only debate in Cape Coast on November 20, the organisers, Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), announced on Tuesday.

IEA said the vice presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party (Dr Mahamudu Bawumia), National Democratic Congress (John Dramani Mahama), Convention People's Party (Dr. Abu Foster Sakara), and People's National Convention (Ms. Petra Maria Amegashie), would answer questions from two moderators.

The event would be aired live from 1800 hours on GTV, GBC radio, Joy FM and all major media outlets across the country. A statement signed by Mrs Jean Mensa, Administrator of IEA, said its Presidential Debates Committee believed that the debate would provide deeper insights into the character, qualifications and convictions of the candidates and give more complete view of the presidential ticket. It would also give a platform to the vice presidential candidates to educate the electorate on how they would assist the president to promote national development and offer platform for deeper discussion and critical analysis of party manifestos and policies. Meanwhile, the second debate for the presidential candidates would be held in Tamale on November 12 at 1700 hours. The theme of the Tamale Debate would be "Strengthening the Pillars of Ghana's Democracy" and would have governance and human/social security as the sub-themes. The moderators of the Tamale Debate would be Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Mr Israel Laryea of Joy FM. 4 Nov. 08