Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has outlined plans to overhaul the New Patriotic Party’s communications machinery if elected as the party’s National Communications Director.
Mr Aboagye says his priority would be to build a highly coordinated communications structure capable of scrutinising the government’s record, engaging the public on national issues and promoting the NPP’s alternative policies.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, August 11, he said the opposition’s communications directorate must become a stronger source of information and accountability for Ghanaians.
“I want to build one of the most sophisticated communications architecture that this country has seen in recent times,” he said.
He argued that the NPP, as the main opposition party, has a responsibility to ensure that Ghanaians receive a balanced assessment of the government’s performance.
According to him, the party must communicate not only what it considers to be the government’s failures but also areas where it has performed well, while clearly presenting the NPP’s alternatives.
“As an opposition party, we have a responsibility to get the whole country talking about the government, the good, the bad, the ugly, and then what alternative we are proposing,” he said.
Mr Aboagye said an ineffective opposition communications structure would deprive voters of the information needed to assess government policies and make informed decisions.
He maintained that governments would naturally focus on highlighting their achievements, making it necessary for opposition parties to independently examine campaign promises against actual delivery.
He cited the government’s No-Fee-Stress policy as an example of an issue the NPP should continue to place under public scrutiny.
Mr Aboagye questioned whether the implementation of the policy had fully reflected the promise made to voters during the election campaign.
“The reason is that you, your son is going to level 200. Remember these guys told you that they’ll give you level 100 free tertiary fees. You know they didn’t give you,” he said.
He said his proposed communications strategy would therefore be centred on facts, accountability and policy alternatives, rather than simply criticising the government.
Mr Aboagye is seeking to become the NPP’s National Communications Director as the party prepares to strengthen its structures and messaging ahead of the next general election.
