We don’t need IEA platform to sell Mills- Quashigah

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We don’t need IEA platform to sell Mills- Quashigah

26 June 2012

The ruling National Democratic Congress says it has better and more efficient platforms to sell candidate John Mills than is being provided by the Institute of Economic Affairs.    

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Propaganda Secretary Richard Quashigah said this in an interview with Joy News shortly after releasing a statement to announce President Mills’ non-availability for the debates.

In the statement he signed, Richard Quashigah stated: “The NDC government has previously drawn the IEA’s attention to the fact that no sitting president or vice president in the 4th Republic has participated in these debates. It is the party’s position to uphold that convention.”

In 2000, when the maiden edition of the debate was held, then candidate John Mills, who was also the vice president, declined to participate.

Six others, including John Kufuor of the NPP, Dr Mike Eghan of the CPP, Dr. Edward Mahama of the PNC, Dr Wereku Brobby of the UGM and Goozie Tanoh of the Reform Party took part in the debate.

In 2004, President John Kufuor also declined to take part in the debate.

In 2008 however, both the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo and NDC’s John Mills took part in the debate which provided the opportunity for electorates to know the policies of each party and how they intended to solve the key issues that affect the country.

But the NDC has served notice, its presidential candidate and vice will not be part of the 2012 event.

Richard Quashigah said the NDC after “sober reflection” has come to conclusion that it will hold on steadfastly to the convention of sitting presidents and vice not taking part in the debates, a convention he admitted the NDC started but was continued by the NPP.

He said the IEA platform does not represent a potent opportunity to sell their candidate.

“We in the NDC do not think that platform offers the effective and potent approach to selling your message and persuading the electorates to really vote for you,” he said.

“We think that if it is about getting our messages across we are doing that effectively. We obviously have a number of platforms available to us to do that.

“Day in and day out policy statements are being issued; sector ministers are explaining issues that have to do with their sectors; the president himself on daily basis has the opportunity of interacting with the electorates and explaining issues to them…”

“We think that if it is about platform to sell ourselves; a platform to persuade the electorates to renew the mandate of President Mills we have a lot of that and we think that the approach we are adopting as a political party is working for us and is most effective and we do not see this particular platform as [effective],” he said.

“We wishing the IEA well and we will obviously take part in other activities that will be of mutial benefits to the IEA and the NDC,” he added.

From:Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com