While political party communicators for both major parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), are expected to explain the ideologies of their parties to the public and, in some cases, ‘defend’ the parties, particularly when they are in government, it must not be done with reckless abandon.
Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, the Upper East Regional Communication Officer for the NDC, speaking with A1 Radio’s Mark Smith, explained that communication by communicators must be done in context and with certain mindful limitations.
Mr. Abdallah Salifu pointed out that when a communicator who speaks for and on behalf of a party is not cautious, injurious statements he or she makes in support or defence of his or her party may be used against him or her when it matters.
The Regional Communication Officer used the current campaign against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a flagbearer hopeful of the NPP, as an example.
“Ken has said one thing I respect him for. He said look, out of the 10 sins the camp of Dr. Bawumia is circulating, none of those things benefit him, Kennedy Agyapong as a person. They were for the benefit of the party. When Ahmed Suale, may his soul rest in perfect peace, was everywhere disgracing and embarrassing the party as if there were no men in the party, he had to step in. He fought him. His intention was not for it to get to where it got to, but he was fighting him on behalf of the party. All the other things were to the benefit of the NPP, but today, they find it convenient to use it against him simply because he also wants to be presidential candidate.”
“Moving forward, everybody would learn his lesson … myself who comes to speak for my party and others who speak for the various parties, we must do it with limitations. There might come a day when your party may have to forsake you and you would have to stand alone,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
