General News of Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Source: Myjoyonline.com
NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has held ballots for three political parties ahead of the much anticipated Evening Encounters by political party flag bearers who have representatives in Parliament.
The Evening Encounter is an opportunity for the flagbearers to share details of their manifestos to the voting public.
Missing from the pack is President John Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress.
The party threatened to boycott activities of the think tank ahead of the 2016 elections accusing the IEA of bias and failing to consult them on key issues.
A meeting was held for three political party reps Wednesday to discuss the modalities and arrangements for the Evening Encounters which is usually a prelude to the presidential debates.
Per a ballot picked during the meeting, the PNC’s flag bearer, Dr. Edward Mahama will be the first to appear in the IEA Evening Encounter program scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.
The PNC flagbearer “would be followed by Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, flagbearer of the CPP and Hon. Nana Akufo Addo, flagbearer of the NPP,” a statement signed by the Executive Director of the IEA Mrs. Jean Mensah said.
The statement was, however, silent on the NDC and whether it will participate in other activities of the IEA.
Ahead of the 2012 elections, the NDC threatened to boycott activities of the IEA but made a u-turn at the last hour to take part in the Evening Encounter as well as the presidential debate.
It is not clear yet if the governing party will make a similar decision in the 2016 election.
IEA UNDERTAKES BALLOTING FOR 2016 EVENING ENCOUNTER SERIES
PRESS RELEASE
As part of arrangements towards the IEA 2016 Debate Series, the IEA on Wednesday 1st June 2016 convened a meeting of representatives of flag bearers of three political parties, namely the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Peoples’ National Convention (PNC). The meeting aimed at discussing modalities and arrangements for the Evening Encounters and to undertake a ballot to determine the sequence of participation at the Evening Encounters.
Unlike Presidential Debates that bring all Presidential Aspirants together on the same platform, the Evening Encounters which are precursors to Presidential Debates provide a single platform to each of the Presidential Aspirants to present their vision and plans of governance to a cross section of civil society. After each presentation, representatives of civil society pose direct questions, seek clarifications or comment on the presentation.
As per the result of the ballot, the PNC’s flag bearer, Dr. Edward Mahama would be the first among the Presidential Aspirants to mount the IEA Evening Encounter Platform. He would be followed by Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, flag bearer of the CPP and Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the NPP. The first Evening Encounter would be held on Tuesday 21st June 2016. The remaining Encounters would be held weekly thereafter.
The IEA would like to commend the flag bearers of the Political Parties for their interest in mounting this accountability platform to share their vision, plans and to engage directly with the citizenry.
SIGNED DATED: 1ST June 2016
…………………………..
Mrs. Jean Mensa
(Executive Director)
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