The 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has once again challenged former President John Dramani Mahama to a presidential debate.

Addressing a gathering of chiefs, Imams, Pastors, business and social groups in Tema Central Constituency of the Greater Accra Region, Dr. Bawumia said the former president has shied away from the presidential debate because he lacks facts about the issues he talks about.

“When I speak, I talk about data and that is why the former president is running away from the debate because he cannot, he cannot [speak to data]…,” he said to a loud applause.

The call for a Presidential debate between the two front runners in the 2024 elections has intensified due to the persistent calls from the NPP flagbearer.

However, former president Mahama and the NDC have rejected the challenge arguing that they don’t understand why the NPP party which rejected a similar challenge in 2020 is calling for one now.

Some communicators of the main opposition party have rather called on the NPP flagbearer to instead debate the suffering masses ahead of the polls and not their political opponents.

This proposition seems to be supported by the former president who has insisted that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who says he is a driver’s mate now must first get a driver’s license to qualify to debate him.

However, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia believes former president Mahama is simply not ready for the debate because he lacks facts.