The Minority in Parliament has declared that the proposal for a debate between the flagbearers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not feasible.
They have put forth the argument that setting up a debate between former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would not be a fair matchup.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam said on the floor of the House in Accra yesterday that a driver’s mate, as Dr Bawumia described himself, could not debate an experienced driver, John Mahama.
“Mr Speaker, monkeys, they say, play by sizes. Mr Speaker, how can a driver’s mate debate an experienced driver?” he asked.
This was in response to a fresh challenge thrown to the former president by Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to accept Dr Bawumia’s invitation for a presidential debate.
“We’re calling on Mahama to accept the invitation by Dr Bawumia for a debate. We don’t want politics of insults, name-calling, insinuations and all. If indeed he’s determined to come back and wants to tell Ghanaians that he’s a changed man, I’m calling on him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr Bawumia and debate on the issues,” he said.
He said “Dr Bawumia is ready to put the cards on the table. If he says we have not performed as a government, it’s only through a debate that he can put a point across,” the Majority Leader said in an interaction with journalists after Tuesday’s presentation of government’s mid-year budget review.
But Dr Forson said the former president would not dignify the challenge by the Vice President for the debate.
According to him, the former president’s experience put him far and above the Vice President and that the caucus’ spokespersons on finance were ready to debate on behalf of Mr Mahama.
“A driver’s mate cannot debate an experienced driver. Mr Speaker that is the fact. So, we throw the challenge, he should debate honourable Adongo first, honourable Ampem second, honourable Ricketts Hagan third before he considers debating former president John Mahama,” he stated.
The former President, Dr Forson said would continue to engage the Ghanaian whose living standards have dropped as a result of the mismanagement of the economy by the government.
On his part, the Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza said the majority caucus and the governing party should first and foremost debate the suffering Ghanaians.
“The people to debate him are out there. He should debate the people of this country. President Mahama is just one individual. Debate the millions of people who are struggling under the hands of the Vice President and then we will get there. If you can actually advise your flagbearer to just meet journalists who are not 32 million people to just talk to them… just a few of the journalists… meet them and don’t cook the questions, allow them to ask proper questions and you will see how it will go,” Mr Agbodza challenged.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
