IEA holds first presidential encounter Wednesday
The Presidential Debate Committee (PDC) of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), has announced that the first evening encounter for presidential candidates in the 2024 general election will be held on Wednesday (September 18).
Advertisement
At a press conference held at the IEA head office in Accra yesterday, the Alternate Chairman of the PDC and Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, indicated that the first evening encounter would see the founder of the New Force Movement and an independent presidential aspirant, Nana Kwame Bediako, engage the media and the general public on the premises of the IEA at 5 p.m., in the evening.
The remaining four evening encounters will be held at the same venue in the next four consecutive weeks on Tuesday, September 24; and Tuesday, October 1, 8 and 15, this year, the presidential aspirants for the remaining encounters are yet to be confirmed by the IEA and the PDC. Also, the first presidential debate will take place on Tuesday, October 22 in Accra and the second debate will be held on Tuesday, November 19, this year. The sole vice-presidential debate will take place in Accra on Tuesday, November 5, this year.
Other members of the PDC present at the press conference include the Diocesan Bishop of the Accra Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto; the Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Dr Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo; the President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke, and Senior Fellow at the IEA, Dr Alberta Hagan.
Modalities, criteria,
As part of the criteria for the selection of the candidates, Most Rev. Dr Boafo indicated: “The Presidential Candidate should have submitted official documentation to the Electoral Commission (EC) to participate in the upcoming general election; the Presidential Candidate should have launched his or her manifesto; the Candidate should have received media recognition from reputable media outlets, including international ones; and a reasonable assessment of the candidate’s performance in selected election polls”.
For modalities of the encounters, he stated that the moderator was expected to give 30 minutes to the presidential aspirant to make a presentation which would be followed by an hour and a half questions and answers session with questions from the in-house audience.
The Alternate Chairman of the PDC stated that the Committee had gathered questions under key thematic areas such as economy, health, education, security, environment and sports, among others, from over 300 private institutions, public institutions, labour unions, other organisations, groups and individuals for the purpose of the encounters and debates to help facilitate the event and make it more inclusive and engaging.
It is expected to be streamed live on social media platforms, as well as television and radio coverage for the general public. Meanwhile, invitees, who will have access, strictly by invitation, will be drawn from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Associations, Private Sector Institutions, Public Sector Institutions, Political Parties, Diplomatic Communities, Faith-based Organisations, Labour Unions, among others.
Other Trending Stories
Rationale, Omission
Most Rev. Dr Boafo said the event forms part of the IEA’s effort to provide “a platform for the candidates to present their visions, plans and strategies to the electorate and allow the electorate to ask questions to enable them to make informed choices on election day”.
He added that the encounters and debates would promote constructive political discourse, focus on issues and policies, and thereby help deepen multi-party democracy and good governance in the country.
Answering questions from journalists, the Alternate Chairman of PDC said the main opposition, National Democratic Congress and the governing New Patriotic Party had hinted that they might not participate in any of these exercises.
He, however, said his outfit would continue to engage the two parties to reconsider their positions to partake in the exercise.
He said although the Movement for Change, led by Alan Kyerematen, had confirmed participation in the exercise, it was yet to be given the date to appear for the encounter; while others were still being engaged.