Mahama avoiding IEA debate to save his shame - Adorye

A communication team member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hopeson Yaovi Adorye strongly holds the conviction that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is only discrediting Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Presidential debate on purpose.

According to him, he can only think of NDC’s stance on the IEA Presidential debate as a means by President John Dramani Mahama to avoid being embarrassed for failing to fulfil any of his promises made during the 2012 IEA Presidential debate.

It appears the IEA may have to organise this year’s Presidential Debate without the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NDC’s decision isn’t much of a surprise as it has in recent times registered its displeasure with the way the Jean Mensa-led body has ‘conducted itself’.

Recently the NDC based its intentions of ditching the debate on the premise of strengthening the state-run civic education body National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), saying it preferred attending one organised by the latter.

This was after the NCCE had announced it had plans for a “presidential dialogue” as part of its roadmap for the 2016 elections.

The IEA subtly fought back insisting the NCCE should rather expend its efforts towards what it’s statutorily mandated to do – civic education.

But Hopeson Adorye on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show insisted the ruling government [NDC] know they have failed this country and therefore people will be asking questions regarding the numerous promises of President Mahama.

“They know that in the 2012 IEA Presidential Debate, none of the things President Mahama promised has been achieved and he is afraid his voice will be played to him....so this is the way to avoid this debate so that it will not bring embarrassing to President Mahama,” he asserted.

He indicated that “all that the NDC is seeking to do is to discredit IEA and push the debate to NCCE as a state institution.”