The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has stated that a debate must precede the 2024 elections, involving some of the political parties intending to contest.

IEA stresses that such debates are crucial for voters to assess both presidential and vice-presidential candidates to enable informed decision-making.

This stance from IEA arises amidst apparent disagreement between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the necessity of holding debates.

Professor Alexander Bilson Darku, a senior fellow at IEA, in an interview with Citi News, disclosed that engagements have commenced with the various political parties to organise a debate before December 7.

“Let me make this very clear from the beginning. The need for debate is the right of the people. The people of Ghana ought to know what their presidential candidate, and for that matter, the party they represent, have in stock for them and so we are at a very early stage now talking to them [the political parties].

“We have our timetable and very soon it will be known to the public as to the programme that the IEA has outlined to make this all-important presidential debate come on. I don’t think we should go into the specifics, but I am telling you we will have it at a very good time that would be beneficial to the parties involved and the timing that would be beneficial for the nation.”

Professor Alexander Bilson Darku further mentioned that the participating parties and their candidates will be streamlined.

“We are using the Afrobarometer criteria. It has established a threshold, and we will use that threshold to invite the parties that meet the threshold to participate in the debate.

“This might be four or five parties, and their presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates will be invited to participate in the debate.”