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NDC’s decision to boycott debate unfortunate - Dr. Ransford Gyampoh

Dr. Gyampoh said “it appears the party is embarking on a political suicide mission by alienating and not endearing itself to the election kin makers”.

Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Dr. Ransford Gyampoh

The governing NDC boycotted the debate after it raised misgivings from the start about the approach being adopted by the IEA for this year’s presidential debate.

This is not the first time the NDC is taking such a decision.

In 2012 the party did same before the death of the late Prof. Mills. He indicated that “the NDC rescinded the earlier decision and participated fully in the evening encounters and the debates for both presidential candidates and their running mates”.

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He said this U-turn brought extra financial cost to the Institute which was not planned for. “It is significant to note that, the U-turn came at an extra cost to the Institute. It is not exactly clear the basis of allegations of bias against the institute. This is because outside election periods, the NDC likewise all other parties with representation in parliament fully cooperate with the IEA under the auspices of Ghana Political Parties Programme. It is also worthy to note that, in opposition, the NDC attended every IEA workshop and event”.

Dr. Gyampoh who is also a research fellow at the IEA in his commentary indicated that they have made huge investments into the party. He mentioned “the monthly stipends paid to party officials, funding of workshops and capacity building programmes, as well as donation of computers and other office equipment” as some of the investments made into the party.

Dr. Gyampoh said “it appears the party is embarking on a political suicide mission by alienating and not endearing itself to the election kin makers”. He said the notion that the debates does not contribute to winning the election must be shelved since the platform “offers candidates the opportunity to appeal to election kin-makers, the undecided and floating voters”.

“Those who hold this view are oblivious of the voting attitude of the five to 10 percent floating voters who are the election king makers” he said.

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Meanwhile the NDC said it is considering participating in the election debates to be organised by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation or the National Commission on Civic Education.

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