“If the IEA does not include the CPP in the first encounter of the Institute’s debate organised for the Presidential candidates, we’ll pull off from such debates for good,” that is the contention of the Convention People’s Party(CPP).

The cockerel family said it is regrettable that the system wants to forcibly turn Nkrumah’s CPP into a third force in the political enclave, despite the critical role it played in laying the foundations of the nation’s development and freedom.

It said it does not understand why the IEA will shun them in such crucial debate, giving the fact that it contributed significantly in consolidating the programme on the political calendar from the onset.

In an interview with Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM, the Deputy Communications Director of the CPP in the Ashanti Region, Osei Kofi Acquah said it is worrying that the CPP that put up a sterling performance in the previous debates during the time of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and Dr. Abu Sakara will have to be ditched this time with no apparent reasons.

“This is an affront to the image of the CPP. In the beginning, when there was no credibility for the IEA in organising such debates we were there with you and never rejected you. And if you think that now you have gained acceptance and credibility in the system and you’ll want to be selective, you can go ahead with it. But if the IEA decides to host this debate for Nana Addo and John Mahama alone, then we’ll also sever ties with them.”

The much anticipated Presidential debate for candidates will be considered for only the two major political parties for now, Institute of Economic Affairs(IEA) has said.

The IEA says the decision is premised on a survey it conducted in Ghana, which the results clearly demand just a showdown of separate encounter between the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama and that of New Patriotic Party(NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The institute has however announced that it will hold a separate debate for all parties without representation in parliament later.