Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has stated that, given Ghana’s current political and economic circumstances, holding or participating in Presidential debates is not a viable or practical option at this time.
The Political Scientist revealed that, during his fourteen-year stint at the Institute of Economic Affairs’ (IEA) Governance Unit (2004-2018), he was instrumental in orchestrating several public forums, including Presidential Debates, Evening Encounters, and Town Hall Meetings.
Furthermore, he stated that as an academic, he has conducted extensive research on the effects of these public engagements on electoral outcomes, further solidifying his expertise in the field.
“But the current peculiar political condition of Ghana makes the call for debate disingenuous. If a comparison of yesterday and today cannot be done to inform rational choice, then presidential debates, I dare say, won’t help either, in distinguishing between a clear day and a dark night”.
Professor Ransford Gyampo
More so, Prof. Gyampo asserted that hosting Presidential Debates is a crucial catalyst for Ghana’s progress toward democratic maturity, as it fosters informed discourse, accountability, and civic engagement.
Accordingly, Prof. Gyampo stressed that for Presidential Debates to fulfill their essential purposes in a democratic society, the country’s democratic foundations must be robust and resilient enough to weather any challenges, and must not be deteriorating or showing signs of instability.
However, Prof. Gyampo declared that at this critical juncture in Ghana’s political and governance landscape, the public’s primary focus should be on revitalizing the Fourth Republic to its founding principles and ideals.
Prof. Gyampo further lamented that Ghana’s democracy has regressed, falling short of its initial promise at the dawn of the Fourth Republic, and urged the nation to take immediate action to rectify this downward trajectory and restore democratic governance to its former vitality.
As such, Prof. Ransford Gyampo emphasized that instead of fostering a platform for political grandstanding that disrespects the intellect of the disengaged citizen, Ghanaians must deliberately focus on offering constructive solutions to the nation’s pressing challenges and developmental hurdles.
IMANI Announces Presidential Debate
Meanwhile, IMANI Africa Policy and Education Think Tank has announced plans to host a Presidential Debate, in partnership with the media, featuring all Presidential Candidates from various political parties, aimed at fostering informed discourse and civic engagement.
According to IMANI, the debate will offer a platform for all presidential hopefuls to articulate their visions, share innovative ideas, and present practical solutions to address the nation’s pressing socio-economic challenges, thereby enlightening citizens and fostering informed decision-making.
Furthermore, IMANI called on the public to submit questions for the debate, recognizing that citizens are best positioned to identify the most pressing issues and concerns, given their firsthand experience with the country’s economic, political, and social realities.
Additionally, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling NPP, has renewed his appeal for a presidential debate between the flagbearers of the two dominant political parties, John Dramani Mahama and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to engage in a constructive exchange of ideas and policies
“It is not about talking. It is too cheap, for people to do propaganda. We can’t wait for them to sit down like this to debate, so after today, we are calling, as a chairman of all these media”.
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako
Accordingly, the NPP patriot generously offered to provide his TV stations as a platform to broadcast the presidential debate between Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP flagbearer, and John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, to a wider audience, promoting transparency and accountability in the political process.
Presidential debates provide a crucial platform for candidates to engage in constructive discourse, showcasing their policies, leadership styles, and visions.
These debates, though fairly new in Ghana’s politics, empower citizens to make informed decisions, fostering accountability, transparency, and democratic values, ultimately strengthening the nation’s political and democratic fabric.
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