A United States-based Ghanaian professor, Kwaku Asare, has proposed replacing presidential debates in Ghana with simulations.
In these simulations, presidential candidates would be given time to demonstrate how they would address specific issues.
He suggests moving away from the current format, where candidates deliver ‘rehearsed lines’ on stage, providing ‘little insight’ into their actual problem-solving capabilities.
In a Facebook post, Prof. Asare remarked that presidential debates have become platforms for reciting prepared statements, offering minimal insight into a candidate’s ability to solve problems.
“Presidents are elected to solve problems, so it is more beneficial to directly assess their problem-solving skills,” he said.
“I propose replacing debates with simulations where each team (presidential and VP candidates) is given 10 complex problems to solve within an hour.
They will then reconvene to present their solutions. Each question will follow this format: 1. Answer Presentation: 5 minutes by the answering team. 2. Critique: 3 minutes by the opposing team.
“This simulation will take 140 minutes for 2 teams. If more than 2 teams are required the timing can be adjusted but in no event shall the number of participants exceed 3 teams and the duration exceed 3 hours,” he wrote.
His comments come at a time when Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has challenged former President and NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama to a live presidential debate to explain their respective visions and policies to the people of Ghana.
