IEA admits it hasn’t yet invited NDC for debate, rejects NPP fronting allegations

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has clarified that it has not yet extended invitations to any political parties or presidential candidates for the upcoming Presidential Debates.

This comes after concerns raised by the Mahama 2024 Campaign that the Institute announced such activity as if a stakeholder, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been engaged.

“The Constitution of Ghana does not grant the IEA any authority to organise elections-related activities. The fact that the IEA has not shown the decency or respect to at least inform the NDC of its plans raises serious questions about its motives,” the release signed by John Mahama’s spokesperson Joyce Mogtari indicated on July 19.

In response, “the IEA did not indicate that it had engaged or informed any Political Party or Presidential Candidate to participate in the Debates.”

The statement signed by IEA Chairman, Charles Mensa explained that “Indeed, the IEA had not engaged any Political Party or Presidential Candidate prior to its Press Release.”

“The Institute intended to follow the release with individual letters to the candidates inviting them to the debates and other activities.”

Read also: Why announce a presidential debate without engaging NDC? – Mahama’s campaign team asks IEA
The NDC also expressed dissatisfaction over the perceived lack of engagement from the IEA and allegations of favoritism towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

On this tangent, the IEA emphasised that “the IEA gives equal opportunity to all the Candidate” and therefore “cannot be said to be fronting for any political party, in particular the NPP as is being alleged.”