Election 2024 Debate: We are not fronting for any party -IEA

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana, has described as untrue suggestions that it is fronting for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its proposal to organise political activities, including debates ahead of the December polls.It said the Institute remained on record as having initiated Presidential Debates in the country in the year 2000, and had consistently pursued such 'noble, public-spirited function with integrity', except for 2020 where no debates were organised because of the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing it (IEA) could not be fronting for any political party.The Institute said this in a statement in response to a press release issued on Friday, July 19, 2024, by The Mahama 2024 Campaign Team, signed by the Spokesperson, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari.Madam Mogtari had said the Institute's announcement of debates was completely unacceptable because it had not engaged or informed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prior to the announcement.She said: 'The fact that the IEA has not shown the decency or respect to at least inform the NDC of its plans raises serious questions about its motives. The IEA is clearly acting as a front for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and seeks to manipulate the electoral process in favour of the ruling party.'The IEA, in its Monday July 22 statement signed by Dr Charles Mensa, Board Chair of the Institute, said: 'Respectfully, in our Press Release of 17th July, 2024, the IEA did not indicate that it had engaged or informed any Political Party or Presidential Candidate to participate in the Debates. Indeed, the IEA had not engaged any Political Party or Presidential Candidate prior to its Press Release.'The Institute intended to follow the Release with individual letters to the Candidates inviting them to the Debates and other activities.'It added: 'The Debates provide opportunities for the candidates to present their policies to the Ghanaian public, and to counter the policies of their opponents so that the electorate will make informed choices at the elections.'In that regard, the IEA gives equal opportunity to all the Candidates…''As it always does, the IEA will be writing to the Presidential Candidates inviting them to participate in the Debates and the other activities,' the statement said.It said the Debates contributed to enhancing Ghana's growing democracy and should be seen as such.The Institute, therefore, encouraged all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates to participate in the Debates which would offer the platform to explain their policies and programmes to the electorate to win their votes.'It is our sincere hope that all Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates will participate in the planned programme,' the Institute said.Source: Ghana News Agency