The Institute of Progressive Governance (IPG) has admonished the presidential candidate for the opposition NDC, John Dramani Mahama, not to run away from locking horns with his counterpart from the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in a debate.

In a statement issued by IPG, the think tank notes with concern the apparent disinterest of the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, in debating Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the yet-to-be-held IEA Debate. It expresses worry about the former president’s refusal to accept calls to debate Dr. Bawumia.

“It is worrying that with Ghana’s democratic credentials, the presidential candidate for the major opposition party is running away from a healthy debate against his main contender in an election which many analysts believe to be the most crucial since 1992,” the statement notes.

A debate between the two leading candidates, IPG notes, not only deepens our democratic culture but also affords the two leading candidates the opportunity to explain their vision, core policies, and programs to the electorate.

“Both political parties have come up with manifestos which contain detailed information on what each political party will do if elected to office. A debate between the two leading candidates will help throw more light on these manifesto promises. A debate between the two of them, we believe, will settle the question of whether the Ghanaian economy needs a reset or an upgrade. It will afford the Ghanaian people an opportunity to choose whether to believe in the upgrade of Dr. Bawumia or the reset being preached by Mahama,” it explained.

“Ghanaians will also be able to know which of the two candidates can best manage the economy if elected president. There will also be an opportunity for the voting public to know the achievements of the two main political parties. It is, therefore, unfathomable that the former president and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress is running away from debating his opponent, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,” it indicated.

According to IPG, the NDC has, over the years, been tagging the Vice President a liar. A debate will help to finally bring clarity on whether Dr. Bawumia is indeed a liar or not.

“Over the past few years, the refrain from the corridors of former President Mahama has been that Vice President Bawumia is a liar and that he cannot speak to the economic record of the Akufo-Addo administration. The NDC branded Bawumia as ‘Bawuliar’ because of the aforementioned reason.”

The Vice President and his team have dismissed this tag as untrue and not reflective of the reality of the situation. A debate at the instance of the IEA will settle this issue once and for all. Mahama must debate Bawumia to ‘expose’ him for the liar he claims the Vice President is, according to IPG.

“Failure on the part of the former president to debate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will mean that the liar tag is nothing but propaganda to smear the reputation of the Vice President. The Ghanaian voter must not be denied the opportunity to watch a debate between candidates Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama. The former president must not run away from debating Dr. Bawumia at the IEA-organized debate scheduled a few weeks to come,” the statement concludes.