Editor Pleads: IEA Should Extend Time

Editor-In-Chief of the "New Crusading Guide" newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, wants the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to extend the time allocated to each presidential aspirant to address the electorate. Commenting on the just ended Presidential Debate held in the Northern Region, Kweku Baako opined that if the time allocated for each candidate to state their policies is extended, they will be able to express themselves better and give very accurate answers to the questions that will be posed to them. At the IEA's Evening Encounter, the Presidential Candidates: President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hasan Ayariga of the People's National Convention (PNC), Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Dr. Abu Sakara of the Convention People�s Party (CPP), were entitled to three minutes each to answer a question, two minutes for a rebut and a minute to comment on other matters. While commending the IEA for a job well done, Kweku Baako still believed there was room for improvement. "I have a problem with the format; three minutes to talk about your vision? I have difficulty with that. I think it is not enough; apart from that, the time for rebuttal is also not enough. The next time, if possible, they should limit the number of questions that will be asked so that the candidates can be given more time to speak. Because, to be honest, three minutes to speak; you cannot cover everything you want to say. I think they can reduce the number of subjects and questions and increase the number of rebuttals�� he posited on PeaceFM's Kokrokoo Morning Show. Asked to rate the performance of the four candidates, the seasoned journalist said �all the candidates did well, minus the PNC candidate�. He also lauded President Mahama for being a participant and breaking the convention of sitting Presidents not partaking in the debate, and hoped that other presidents will emulate his action.