The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, appears to have settled the matter on a public debate between the flagbearer of his party, John Dramani Mahama, and that of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Asiedu Nketiah, in an interview with C TV, stated categorically that his party has decided that Mahama would not engage in any form of debate with Bawumia.

“The NDC that I’m a national chairman of has said that President Mahama should not engage Bawumia in any debate, in any shape or form,” he said in Twi.

The NDC national chairman explained that the party’s decision is based on the grounds that any debate with a “fool” would have no meaningful outcome.

He added that debating with liars is also an exercise in futility.

“There are two things that I have learnt from philosophy, which have guided the way I do politics. There are two categories of people that any sensible person should not debate; one is the fool or an idiot. Never argue with the fool because people would never know the difference. I hope it does not apply to His Excellency the Vice President because I don't know him to be a fool.

“Number 2, never argue with a liar, you can’t win because they believe in their own lies. It is like wrestling with a swine in the mud, it would pull you into it (the mud).”

Leading figures of the NPP have said that former President Mahama is afraid of debating Bawumia because he is afraid he would be badly beaten.

The flagbearer, who is also the Vice President of the Republic, has himself said that Mahama is avoiding a debate with him out of fear of being exposed.

"I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy and governance, but he is running away from a debate. His people say he doesn’t want to debate because he knows that I will expose the emptiness of his policies," Bawumia said.

Watch his remarks in the video below:



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