The first of two presidential debates to be organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) among the flagbearers of the four political parties with representation in Parliament has been scheduled for October 30, at Tamale, the Northern Regional capital.

The second encounter among the same candidates comes off at Accra on November 20.

The Vice Presidential candidates will slug it out with each other on November 6, at Takoradi in the Western Region, in debates which form part of efforts to meaningfully consolidate multi-party democracy and promote issues-based electioneering campaign in the country.

Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra, a visiting senior Fellow of the IEA, disclosed this in Accra on Thursday when President John Mahama took his turn at the IEA Evening Encounter, to outline the NDC’s vision for the country should it be retained in the December polls.

The four political parties with representation in Parliament are : the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC).

Brigadier Agyemfra said the IEA believed that the political parties must have the opportunity to present their candidates, platforms and election manifestos to the electorate.

“The electorate must, at a minimum, be informed about the options and proposals being offered by the presidential aspirants and the political parties,” he said.

“Those who wish to govern must allow themselves to be subjected to probing questions by the people, to ensure that they understand their concerns and have the capacity to address them,” he stressed.