As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) questions the credibility of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in hosting a fair and balanced debate among presidential aspirants, another equalization game has been set in motion.
The NDC has already indicated, its presidential aspirant, Dramani Mahama won’t avail himself for this year’s presidential debate citing biases against the party by the institute.
Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated their willingness to use the platform of the institute in preaching their ‘change’ gospel to the electorate, presidential aspirant, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is yet to honour the pledge leading the IEA to postpone about two already announced engagements.
The NPP maintains it had to wait till its manifesto was unveiled before it went on the IEA platform and now that its execution took place at the Trade Fair Centre, it remains to be seen when Nana Addo shall avail himself. There is also that matter of President Mahama throwing a challenge to Nana Addo and Dr. Bawumia for a debate to set the records straight although the platform to be used and body to facilitate the debate is to be known.
Abraham Amaliba
On Joy FM’s ‘News File’ show today, the independence of the IEA came up for discussion where a panelist submitted that the NDC ought not Cry wolf when it has current Education Minister in the Mahama regime, Prof. Jane Opoku Agyemang as co-moderator for the 2012 debate.
To counter that jab, Abraham Amaliba - a legal and communications team member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), pointed out that the NPP also had Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, then morning show host at Joy FM as co-host who is today aiming for the Ofoase Ayirebi seat on the ticket of the opposition NPP.
But in a move quite rare for politicians known for their partisanship, Mr. Amaliba acknowledged that Mr. Oppong Nkrumah exhibited such high levels of professionalism at Joy FM, his soft spot for the NPP was never detected through his work.
He recalled that when Nana Addo made his infamous ‘all die be die’ statement, a scandalised Oppong Nkrumah sought eminent persons to condemn the unguarded comment although he regrettably found many to be unwilling to bash the opposition leader.
Lawyer Amaliba also disclosed that when his path and that of the politician, lawyer and entrepreneur with background in Finance, Economics and Marketing Communications crossed he was very impressed with the level of professionalism he exhibited and sense of equity he possessed essentially endorsing Oppong Nkrumah despite he being an NPP man.