Government Spokespersons and Special Assistants have expressed serious misgivings about what they term the unguided effusion of the Chief of Staff on their mode of operations. They see it as an act of sabotage and an unnecessary propaganda mechanism for recognition.
“Our operations are highly political in character (meant) to counter any attack from the highly experienced NDC opposition and the vibrant Media on the government and also serve as a diversionary tactics for Government and Ministers of States to concentrate on governance.”
A Special Assistants told the Network Herald on Wednesday following our story “Castle to Gag Special Assistants and Government Spokespersons” last Tuesday, stressing that most of our Ministers would have been found wanting “if they are picked on the spot to speak on topical issues”.
Referring to Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani as the most probable source of the story, they advised him to keep quiet and learn from the adage that those who live in glass houses should avoid throwing stones at outsiders-whatever that means. This is our advise to the Chief of Staff and his collaborators, our contributions had saved the government and other inexperienced Minister from public ridicule and embarrassment.
Our efforts need to be commended instead of it being met with abuses and accusations through the Media. The Network Herald last Tuesday reported that the Office of the Chief of Staff had expressed grave concern about recent statements by Government Spokespersons and Special Assistant without due authorization and consultation.
the report was emphatic that Mr. Kwabena Agyepong and Mr. Amponsah Bediako should have been fired for speaking to the press without due consultation but for strategic reasons. The strategy according to the Castle Source is to confine them to the original concept of their operations and made to operate within a defined scope. He had contended that “even though they are not officially recognized as Civil/Public Servants, they would now be compelled to operate mostly within the scope of the Code of Conduct for such officers.”
The Code among others categories the powers and functions of scheduled officers, type of information to handle and pass on to the general public and also to respect the services official Oath of Secrecy. He said an administrative memo on their mode of operations would soon be issued out to ensure sanity in information flow, stressing, “we need to operate within defined parameters to ensure that through acts of omission and commissions we do not undermine the very government we seek to work for.”
The Castle Source said originally Government Spokespersons and Special Assistant were to assist the government and ministers behind the scene with relevant information as well as monitor media trends and offer suggestions. They were not supposed to be front line men who speak or deal directly with the Media without prior authority.
