Mahama
(Left)
and
Dr
Bawumia
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A
Former
Deputy
General
Secretary
of
the
National
Democratic
Congress
(NDC)
Koku
Anyidoho
has
dared
the
flagbearer
of
the
National
Democratic
Congress
(NDC)
John
Dramani
Mahama
to
accept
the
challenge
thrown
by
his
counterpart
in
the
New
Patriotic
Party
(NPP)
Vice
President
Dr
Mahamudu
Bawumia
for
a
presidential
debate
ahead
of
the
2024
general
elections.
Koku
says
he
will
organise
a
‘no
debate,
no
presidency’
demonstration
if
Mr
Mahama
does
not
accept
the
challenge.
Ghanaian
Professor
proposes
replacing
presidential
debates
in
Ghana
with
simulations
“For
now,
it
is
John
Mahama’s
aides/cult
worshipers
who
are
saying
he
would
not
participate
in
any
debate.
“I
am
waiting
for
JM
himself
to
be
bold
and
say
to
the
hearing
of
Ghanaians
that
he
would
not
participate
in
a
debate
&
I
will
lead
a
massive
‘No
Debate,
No
Presidency’
demonstration,”
he
wrote
on
his
X
platform.
His
comments
come
at
a
time
when
the
flagbearer
of
the
New
Patriotic
Party
(NPP)
Dr
Mahamudu
Bawumia
had
dared
former
President
and
flagbearer
of
the
NDC,
John
Dramani
Mahama,
for
a
live
presidential
debate
to
explain
their
respective
visions
and
policies
to
the
people
of
Ghana.
Addressing
thousands
of
his
supporters
last
night
in
Bunkpurugu,
North
East
Region,
Dr.
Bawumia
said
he
was
eagerly
waiting
for
a
debate
with
Mahama,
but
he
was
less
optimistic
that
would
happen
because
Mahama
is
“running
away.”
“I
am
looking
forward
to
a
debate
with
John
Mahama
on
the
economy,
on
the
country
on
the
governance,”
Dr.
Bawumia
said.
“But
I
am
afraid
that
he
is
running
away
from
a
debate.
His
people
say
he
doesn’t
want
to
debate.
I
have
never
heard
an
opposition
leader
who
doesn’t
want
to
debate.
But
he
knows
I
will
expose
the
emptiness
of
his
policies,”
the
NPP
flagbearer
added.
Dr.
Bawumia
added
that
former
President
Mahama
and
his
team
are
unable
to
explain
their
24-hour
economy
to
Ghanaians,
adding
that
the
former
President
is
avoiding
a
debate
because
he
will
be
exposed.
“He
says
he
has
a
24-hour
economy
which
he
cannot
explain.
It
is
as
empty
as
an
empty
barrel.
He
cannot
explain
it
and
none
of
his
people
can
explain
it.
They
say
they
will
be
exporting
lions
and
elephants.”
“When
we
meet
mano
a
mano,
we
can
debate,
and
the
country
will
see
where
our
policies
lie
and
that
is
where
we
should
go.
We
should
give
the
country
an
opportunity
to
listen
to
us.
If
he
chooses
not
to
debate,
I’ll
continue
to
sell
my
policies,”
he
said.
In
advanced
democracies,
presidential
debates
are
firmly
rooted
as
part
of
the
electoral
process.
Many,
including
civil
society
groups,
have
called
for
a
debate
between
the
two
leading
candidates
of
the
election,
for
Ghanaians
to
listen
to
them
on
their
policies
and
vision
for
the
country.
With
Vice
President
Bawumia
throwing
the
challenge,
the
ball
is
now
in
the
court
of
former
President
Mahama.