President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has seconded Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's challenge to the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to a debate on the economy.

He explained that the debate would help Ghanaians to understand the true state of Ghana's economy and governance and correct the wrong impression the former President was making about government policies, programmes and interventions.

President Akufo-Addo was speaking during a stakeholders engagement in Sunyani on Wednesday, as part of his nationwide "Thank you" and and accountability tour.

Challenge 

Recently, Dr Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) dared Mr Mahama to a presidential debate on the economy.

He said the debate would help to explain the respective visions and policies of himself and former President Mahama to the people of Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo said when Dr Bawumia threw the challenge, inviting Mr Mahama for the debate, he declined it, "claiming Dr Bawumia is not his classmate for him to debate him."

President Akufo-Addo mocked: "It is true, Dr Bawumia is not his classmate because he (Mahama) is the only one term President in the history of Ghana".

"I have classmates, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kufuor are all two-term Presidents, so they are my classmates".

"As for Mahama, he has no classmate. If he says so I agree with him. Dr Bawumia will win the December 7, 2024 polls and again win December 7, 2028 polls to become two-term President," he said. 

President Akufo-Addo emphasised that Mr Mahama said he would not debate Dr Bawumia because he (Bawumia) had never been a President before.

He said he was in the region to thank the chiefs and people of the region reposing their trust in him for the past eight years and supported his administration to succeed.

"I'm retiring on January 6, 2025, as a result l am touring the entire country to thank all Ghanaians for giving me such an honour. I appreciate it. Bono people thank you," he said.