The Mahama 2024 Campaign has sharply criticized the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) following its announcement of a presidential debate for the 2024 elections.
The IEA recently unveiled plans to organize Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates leading up to Ghana’s 2024 General Elections. However, in a statement dated Friday, July 19, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Spokesperson for the Mahama 2024 Campaign, condemned the IEA for not officially inviting the NDC before making the announcement, calling it “completely unacceptable.”
“The Mahama 2024 Campaign strongly condemns the recent announcement by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana regarding a presidential debate for the 2024 elections. It is completely unacceptable that the IEA would make such an announcement without engaging or informing the National Democratic Congress, one of the major political parties in Ghana,” the statement read.
The Mahama 2024 Campaign also asserted that the IEA lacks the authority to organize election-related activities. “The Constitution of Ghana does not grant the IEA any authority to organize elections-related activities. 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.”
Furthermore, the Mahama Campaign accused the IEA of trying to manipulate the electoral process in favor of the NPP, emphasizing that John Dramani Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, have been engaging with the public for many years.
“The IEA is clearly acting as a front for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and seeks to manipulate the electoral process in favor of the ruling party. It is important to remind the IEA and the Ghanaian public that the NDC, led by our presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama and running mate Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, has been engaging with the citizenry for many years. Mahama’s online and offline conversations have targeted a wide range of audiences and focused on addressing the needs and concerns of the people of Ghana.”