The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has released the schedule for its highly anticipated presidential and vice presidential debates in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.

The IEA announced that the first presidential debate is set for Tuesday, 22 October 2024, with a second debate following on Tuesday, 19 November 2024.

The vice presidential debate is planned for Tuesday, 5 November 2024.

As part of its election programming, the IEA will also host five "Evening Encounters," designed to provide a direct platform for presidential candidates to interact with the electorate.

These events will kick off on Wednesday, 18 September, with the final encounter on Tuesday, 15 October 2024.

Meanwhile, the main National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, will not be participating in the IEA debates.

The party cited concerns about the IEA’s credibility as the reason for the decision.