General News of Sunday, 15 May 2016
Source: Ghanapoliticsonline.com
Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Deputy Minister of Communications has added his voice to the current debate going on in the media regarding the new presidential debate proposal put forward by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) saying when he is given the opportunity to vote for or against NDC’s participation, he is going to vote against based on the behavior of Jean Mensa.
Speaking on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji programme, Felix Kwakye Ofosu he said that the Executive Director of IEA Jean Mensa is in no position to summon any political party to participate in any IEA organized debate because in his opinion, the debate is not beneficial than the other platforms that are already available to the various political parties.
“I am appalled by the insufferable arrogance displayed by Jean Mensah and her IEA. This week, I had the opportunity to listen to her interviews on some media platforms and I couldn’t simply believe she seems to inset herself and her organization into the public discourse and have a situation where political parties and other interest groups participate in the process, take such a contemptuous and disrespectful position against the very stakeholders that they seem to bring on board,” he said.
According to him, this is not the first time the IEA executive director is behaving this way.
“One can recall that moment in 2012 when at the 11th hour, the PNC indicated that their flagbearer Hassan Ayariga was unable to participate in the IEA debate scheduled for the next day or so, she Jean Mensa, came out in a similar arrogant manner to talk down on the PNC, their General Secretary and Presidential Candidate then,” he said.
He opined that the IEA is not superior to any institution in this country and therefore have no right to talk down any political party in this country.
“She absolutely has no right and her wings must be clipped by that organization if indeed they want to be taken seriously in this country. Political parties are not minor organizations neither are they school boys to be summoned by the IEA as and when it chooses to debate,” he added.
In a separate chat with Ghanapoliticsonline.com, he indicated that it is common sense and basic standard practice that if you are going to engage in an activity of this sort, you first consult the stakeholders before coming out to launch it.
“You can’t go out there and launch a debate without consulting any political party and expect them to show up,” the deputy minister said.