The IEA Wants To Be A Threat To Our Infant Democracy?
It has been reported that the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has launched its 2016 Pre-Election Debate with the aim at creating opportunity for Presidential candidates to share their vision of governance with the electorates ahead of the November 7 polls this year.
The IEA claims that it is committed to strengthening Ghana's democracy and foster peace before, during and after elections. This cannot be true. What the IEA has put out is a threat to the development of governance in the public sector.
There is a Political Parties Law which determines the legitimacy of political parties and candidates. Anything outside this Law must not be encouraged.
So the IEA cannot claim commitment to strengthening our democracy and yet come up with discriminatory practices that favour some presidential candidates over others. What in the world is a political party "with representation in Parliament"? What about new parties or independent candidates - are they forever barred by the IEA from their debates?
Yes, John Dramani Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo are candidates for NDC and NPP, parties that have won elections since the 1992 constitution came into effect. But for the 2016 election, all candidates start with zero votes. So why plan a debate with only the two of them?
To paraphrase Mr. Akufo-Addo, "All loss be loss". So whether one lost the 2012 election by 5 million votes or ten votes, a loss is a loss. No one is imbued with continuing improving wisdom. A new Presidential Candidate may show up to fire up the imagination and gain support from Ghanaians.
So what the IEA proposes will surely deprive Ghanaians the opportunity to hear from qualified Ghanaians who want to lead the nation. The IEA must rather work to strengthen the Electoral Commission so it can enforce the Political Parties Law so that only parties who meet the requirements are certified to contest elections in Ghana.
I am making my stand clear. I will use all of the influence I have within the Progressive People's Party to ensure that our party does not take part in any debate program that discriminates against non NDC and NPP candidates. After all, we are all called to "...resist oppressors rule."
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