Stop Confusing the People

Once again we are compelled to revisit the issue of inconsistency by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communicators, and how they appear to be losing out in the ‘media war’ to their opponents in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

For twenty months, speakers for the ruling party have not only behaved as if they are the sole repository of socio-economic wisdom, but have also adopted what one may call ‘the pendulum mode’, by giving different interpretations to the same political issues, and thereby confusing their already perplexed supporters.

From where we sit as media practitioners, we think one area that the NPP is woefully failing in its bid to inform and educate its grassroots is on the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) vis-a-vis Board of Directors.

Like Galileo’s simple pendulum chandelier handing in the cathedral, communicators for the NPP have been swinging their position on issues, depending on the individual’s emotion, place and time.

For instance when in May, 2018, the rift between Ms. Francess Essiam, CEO of Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC), and members of the Board escalated, several NPP communicators took sides with the CEO.

They insisted that the CEO is the all-in-all in the company, and advised that any board member who is displeased with the modus operandi of the CEO must resign.

Notable among the noise makers was one Kwabena Sarpong, who consistently screamed whenever he had the chance on radio and TV, that Board members have no right to interfere with the daily affairs of any company or agency.

Many observers were therefore not surprised that, in less than six weeks, President Akufo-Addo, per a letter signed by the then Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, dissolved the board and directed the Board Chair, Frank Boakye Agyen, to hand over all documents to the Company Secretary.

His ‘crime’ was that he reportedly queried Ms. Essiam over her unilateral award of contracts without the approval of the board or the Energy Ministry.

Three months after that incident, communicators for the same party were seen jumping over the roof, and singing a different tune to the same song. In unison, they called for the ‘crucifixion’ of Pastor Mensa Otabil, founder of International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), and until recently Board Chairman of the defunct Capital Bank, for not ‘doing something’ when the management of the bank was misappropriating customers’ deposits.

Even when Pastor Otabil explained that his role was a non-executive one, which did not allow him to interfere with the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank, the NPP communicators called for his head.

What do we see today in the ongoing bickering between the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelovo, and the Board Chair, Professor Edward Duah Agyeman?

Well known NPP kingpins like Hon. Alex Afenyo-Markins and Kamal-Deen Abdulai are all over the place, calling on Domelovo to resign for being ‘too bossy’.

THE PUBLISHER dares to say that this pendulum posture of members and communicators of the ruling party is confusing and unfortunate.

The paper has no interest in any of the incidents catalogued above, except to say that, in our candid opinion, consistency is vital in information dissemination, and the political theatre cannot be a different arena.

Yes, we were told the party’s national communication wing has recently seen a reshuffle, but their approach to issues has not changed a bit.