Presidential candidates can’t be forced to debate – Asah-Asante

Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, says since Ghana has not institutionalised presidential debates in its electoral process, candidates cannot be compelled to participate in such exercises.

According to him, countries where presidential candidates debate each other have incorporated it as part of their electoral process.

This statement follows the majority in parliament’s demand for NDC flagbearer John Mahama to accept a debate invitation from the NPP’s flag bearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the December polls.

In a Citi News interview, Dr Asah-Asante indicated that none of the presidential candidates can be forced to debate because the process has not been institutionalised in Ghana.

“Unfortunately, we have not institutionalised it, though it’s a good programme, since you have not institutionalised it, you can’t call anybody. You can make the call but if the person says no, there’s nothing you can do, it will just fall completely from your hand.

“What the vice president is asking for, if NDC wants to, fine, yes they can, but if they don’t want, and that’s it. You recall the NDC when they were in office they also called and the NPP also didn’t accept that,” he said.

Dr. Asah-Asante added that Ghanaians should question the presidential candidates on their policies when they are campaigning.

“Let us see the campaign itself, that one, the two parties and all the parties have no choice but to give us their manifestos, give us the ideas. And we will ask them the questions, that they will answer.

“But this one [debate], you realise that one party will be ready and another will not, and that will not support the whole exercise. I think the least said about it the better,” the Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana said.

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