Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, says the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is already holding media engagements to deliberate on pertinent issues.
His comments come in response to the refusal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to allow its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama to engage in a debate with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
The NDC insists their flagbearer will engage in a debate only after Dr Bawumia holds a media engagement.
But Dr Amoah argues that, during the NPP flagbearer’s tour across the country, the media is always present to convey his messages.
The MP, who doubles as Deputy Finance Minister, insists that this was also a form of media engagement; hence, he did not understand the NDC’s demands.
“Every body has his campaign strategy. Bawumia, I know at all times can and probably will engage the media the way he wants to. But he is already engaging the public, the space in which the media is a critical member,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on July 27.
The Deputy Finance Minister argued that the basis of the debate is to determine which flagbearer is better than the other. Hence, if Dr Bawumia is insisting on a one-on-one debate, he hasn’t done anything wrong.
Meanwhile, Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Godfred Bokpin believes Dr Bawumia needs a debate with the opposition candidate, more than Mr. Mahama needs it.
According to him, it will do more good than harm to his election bid.
“They know what they are doing. They look at it from a more strategic fit,” Prof. Bokpin said while referencing the campaign strategies of the NPP.
“They have strategists, they do all the analysis. So, if you see Dr Bawumia calling for it, he needs it more,” Prof Bokpin said.
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