NPP awaits official information from IEA says Awuku

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is awaiting a formal briefing from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), before it takes a definite position on their newly proposed changes to this year’s presidential debate series ahead of the November polls. The IEA has announced among others, that its upcoming presidential debate series, could feature a debate between the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) President John Mahama, and the Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.Some of the political parties have however accused the institute of deliberately discriminating against them with the flagbearer of the Peoples Progressive Party, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, threatening to boycott the IEA debate if they go ahead with their decision to host President Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo. But the National Youth Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku, has said his party will not run away from any healthy debate as they believe in healthy dialogue.

He however said the NPP is waiting to receive official information from the IEA in order to make a decision. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Awuku said, “when we are notified officially, we will look at the mode they are talking about and where we have reservations, we will state those reservations, and were we have inputs we will state the inputs and run it by them.”

All parties deserve to be heard

Sammy Awuku also kicked against any attempt to discriminate against some political parties saying they all deserve to have their opinions heard although not necessarily on an IEA platform.

“We also believe that every political party regardless of size deserves the opportunity to express and share their opinion on how they also believe they can govern when they are given the mandate… the NPP treats all political parties with respect. Every political party deserves an opportunity to engage with the people but it shouldn’t necessarily come from the IEA… That is an idea that Nana Akuffo Addo strongly shares.”