The spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 flagbearer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, confronted the issue of the five questions posed by former President John Mahama.
Aboagye firmly argued that Mahama’s questions should be addressed face-to-face in a debate, rather than through media statements.
Aboagye began by questioning Mahama’s authority in posing these questions. Miracles Aboagye asked pointedly, casting doubt on Mahama’s role in questioning the NPP’s candidate.
“Did anybody in this republic make him an examiner? Especially when he was first requested that he should do the people of Ghana the honest. And debates on a neutral platform, he has been running away.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign
He expressed frustration at Mahama’s choice to pose questions indirectly, instead of standing “face-to-face” with Bawumia to directly discuss these issues.
A Call for Direct Debate
Miracles Aboagye stressed the importance of a direct debate, indicating that this would allow Dr. Bawumia to answer Mahama’s questions publicly.
“How do you run away from a debate? And then you go and run on the hinges, on the fringes, and then you are asking questions. Come and face Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and ask [him these questions] to his face.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign
Miracles Aboagye added that Mahama had previously told Dr. Bawumia to address Ghanaians directly.
“If he’s so minded and he wants answers to these questions, he should ask these questions to his face in a debate. He will get to the answers.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign
To him, a direct exchange would clarify any concerns Mahama had, and Dr. Bawumia would respond straightforwardly. He charged; “The Vice President Is Engaging the People”
When asked if Ghanaians deserve answers to Mahama’s questions, regardless of whether Mahama agreed to debate.
Miracles Aboagye affirmed that Dr. Bawumia had already addressed these issues with the people.
According to Miracles Aboagye, Dr. Bawumia has been consistently engaging the public.
“Who told you the vice president has not been giving these answers to the Ghanaian people? Today, he met the transport operators. Today, he had a conversation with them and he had the economy conversation with them.”
He further added that Bawumia’s engagements include addressing key issues about the economy, and these engagements counter Mahama’s claims that Bawumia was avoiding the issues.
Mahama Accused of Avoiding an Independent Debate
In addition to criticizing Mahama’s indirect questioning approach, Miracles Aboagye claimed Mahama should rather do the needful;
“Especially when he has refused bluntly. And he’s put his tails in between his legs and run away from a debate set up by an independent head party to engage the two of them.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign
This accusation, according to Miracles Aboagye, underscored a perceived inconsistency in Mahama’s approach, as he seemingly shies away from confrontation but publicly poses questions indirectly.
On Mutual Questioning and Debate as the Proper Platform
Miracles Aboagye argued that if Mahama expected Dr. Bawumia to answer questions, he should be willing to reciprocate.
“The Vice President says you come for a debate. That’s what he said. Look at the Vice President’s post. He said come and debate.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye Spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign
For Miracles Aboagye, this would create an equitable platform for both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present their responses and policies openly, and directly to Ghanaians.
Direct Engagement Preferred
Finally, Dennis Miracles Aboagye dismissed Mahama’s five questions, stating that Dr. Bawumia has already engaged the public on similar issues.
He closed by reiterating that the NPP is committed to a public discourse where both candidates can respond directly to each other, in the presence of Ghanaians, as a show of commitment to open and transparent communication.
Miracles Aboagye’s challenge remains clear; for Mahama to abandon indirect questioning and engage in a face-to-face debate, a move he believes would serve the public’s best interest.
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