The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly indicated that it may not participate in the presidential debate organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

“IEA cannot just announce a programme, it has not engaged the party on. We are surprised… So if the party has their own programme how are you going to organize it”?

The IEA barely 24 hours ago had revealed that it is considering holding a separate debate for the presidential candidates of the two major political parties; NDC and NPP.

READ MORE: NCCE planning to organise Presidential, Parliamentary debates

The estranged relationship between the IEA and the governing party is an open secret. The NDC has branded the civil society body as an appendage of the opposition NPP.

In 2015, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia criticized the IEA for denying him the opportunity to contribute to a discussion on corruption.

Kofi Adams said the IEA has various platforms for leaders of all political parties one of which the Chairman of the NDC chairs. He said the party expected the IEA to consult their leader before making pronouncements on the debate.

Kofi Adams suspects that the IEA  discriminated against the NDC by failing to consult it. “You don’t go and engage one side and leave the other” he said.

The party rejected suggestions that it is posturing to abandon the debate opportunity.

He reminded the IEA that the NDC is the first political party in power to accept to participate in a presidential debate.