Presidential debate: 'A driver's mate not qualified to debate an experienced driver'

The Minority in Parliament has criticized the Majority caucus for its calls for the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, to debate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, ahead of the December polls.

On Wednesday, July 24, the Majority caucus reiterated their calls for Mr. Mahama to accept a debate invitation from Dr. Bawumia. They argue that such a debate would allow Ghanaians to compare the two parties and determine who is better equipped to manage the economy.

However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, dismissed the idea, stating that a “driver’s mate” (Bawumia) did not qualify to debate an experienced driver (Mahama).

He suggested that the Vice President should first debate the caucus’ spokespersons on the economy and budget before considering a debate with the former president.

“Mr Speaker, monkeys they say play by sizes. Mr Speaker, how can a driver’s mate debate an experienced driver? Mr Speaker in this house the spokesperson for the minority on the issues of finance is Honourable Adongo.

“The spokesperson for the minority for the issues of the economy is honourable Kwaku Ricketts Hagan and the spokesperson for the budget for the minority is honourable Ampem Darko.”

“Mr Speaker we all know that the Chairman of the Economic Management team is the Vice President so the Vice President can only debate honourable Adongo. He should debate honourable Adongo or debate honourable Ricketts Hagan.

“A driver’s mate cannot debate an experienced driver. Mr Speaker that is the fact. So, we throw the challenge, he should debate honourable Adongo first, honourable Ampem second, honourable Ricketts Hagan third before he considers debating former president John Mahama,” he stated.