The IEA came under fire from political parties for failing to actively involve them in the planning stage.
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There is no reason NCCE can't organise presidential debate - Etse Sikanku
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has announced plans to organise presidential debates after the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) released its presidential debate calender.
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Executive Director of the IEA Mrs. Jean Mensa says the NCCE lacks capacity to organise presidential debate.
But Dr. Sikanku says there is nothing wrong with the NCCE since it is the central organisation responsible for civic and national affairs.
“There should be no reason why they shouldn’t be able to that because they are supposed to be the central organization in the country responsible for civic and national affairs and they should have the capacity to conduct an exercise like this.” he said in an interview with Citi FM.
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He also noted in a separate interview with GBC’s Radio Ghana that presidential debates are expected to keep the electorate well informed on policies of the parties so they can make the right choice.
He added that presidential debates should supersede who organises it.
His colleague lecturer at political science department of the University of Ghana, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko, notes the NCCE must focus on its core mandate of educating the citizens on their civic responsibilities, considering what he calls the low level of patriotism among Ghanaians lately.
"The NCCE has a huge responsibility. I would have wished that perhaps this presidential debate would be owned by the nation and that perhaps if we have a constitutionally mandated institution spearheading that particular programme, why not. It will give it a national character.
"So for me, the tussle is needless. The NCCE must also create a niche for itself...I will expect that the NCCE will concentrate on its core mandate of making sure that they would build democratic citizenship for the average Ghanaian. This is critical. That is huge, so we need more resources in that area," Dr. Aggrey Darko told Radio Ghana.
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Since 2000, the Institute of Economic Affairs, (IEA) has organised the Presidential Debate prior to Ghana’s general elections.
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