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General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has dismissed claims that the party betrayed the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for pledging to participate in the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Pre-Election Encounters.

Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo', the PNC General Secretary noted that the PNC is an independent party and doesn't need the NDC to make a decision for them.

According to him, the PNC has not betrayed the NDC because the party thought the ruling party's boycott of the IEA encounters was not in the interest of the nation.

Atik Mohammed explained that the PNC and NDC both raised objections to the IEA's proposition to hold a separate debate between the Presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party and the NDC.

Atik opined that the PNC believed such decision by the IEA would not promote multi-party democracy in the country because it "means you are giving Ghanaians two options; if it’s not NDC, then it’s NPP. And which is very dangerous and defeating of the essence of our democracy.”

He however didn't think the NDC was speaking for the PNC, asking "how could our decision to be part of this process amount to betrayal . . . There was an issue of conflict. And the issue was that we won’t sit down for you do such a thing; doing such debate for the two candidates. We won’t be part if you’ll do it. The NDC also spoke against it and my belief is that they were speaking in favour and in the interest of democracy. But I never knew they were speaking in solidarity with the PNC in the hope that we shall follow them when they take any decision.

“No. The PNC is an independent political party. We took a decision that we believe will help our party. You spoke because we thought you were speaking to help Ghana’s democratic rule . . .to say that it’s betrayal I think it’s unfounded and it’s extremely unfortunate.”