Dr. Samuel Akonga, an aspirant for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Upper East Regional Communications Director position, says party communicators have been undervalued despite playing a decisive role in the NPP’s political fortunes.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Dr. Akonga argued that communicators across constituency and regional levels are often treated as “election-winning machines” whose sacrifices are overlooked once the party takes power.
“Within our party, the communicators, from the constituency level to the regional level, over the years, we have been used as an election-winning machine,” he said. “As we are in opposition, who else speaks for the party apart from our leadership in parliament and the regional communicators? But after victory, do we try to listen to their concerns? That is something fundamental.”
To change this, Dr. Akonga said he would lobby his colleagues in other regions to collectively demand better recognition and incentives for communicators. He argued that spelling out clear expectations and rewards ahead of elections would motivate communicators to work harder.
“If we all agree that when the party comes to power, this is what you will get, it will energize you to work tirelessly to ensure victory,” he noted.
Beyond welfare, Dr. Akonga emphasized the need to rebrand the NPP in the Upper East Region. He said communication strategies must evolve to reach younger voters, stressing the importance of social media and modern digital platforms alongside radio and television.
He also identified weak information flow as one of the party’s biggest communication challenges. Many communicators, he said, are forced to speak without adequate data or facts. To address this, he pledged to leverage his academic and professional networks to organize regular training sessions.
“I will bring on board experts to train our communicators on information gathering, emotional intelligence, and presentation skills,” he said. “When you sit behind the mic, you should know how to compose yourself, control your emotions, and deliver credible information.”
Dr. Akonga believes that better coordination, capacity building, and stronger support systems will strengthen the NPP’s grassroots communication, making the party more competitive in the region.
“We are in opposition, so we need our best effort,” he said. “With training and the skills communicators already have, they will put up their best. That will galvanize the base of the party and ensure we get back to power as quickly as possible.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1 MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
