Dotse-Malor bombs on first assignment

The much touted credentials of veteran BBC broadcaster, recently appointed as Senior Communications Advisor to the President, Ben Dotse-Malor, seem to have hit the rocks with his first official assignment as he made what some analysts described as an unforgivable error by getting the date of his first release wrong.

Mr Malor, whose appointment was met with scorn by members of the public and more interestingly members of the ruling NDC, released his first press release on Friday on the intent of government to cancel the contracts signed by the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority with companies belonging to the AGAMS Group of Companies.

Rather unpardonably, the so-called communications guru issued the release to all media houses and the public with a 2013 date, even though we are in 2014.

This very preventable error has initiated various discussions in the media landscape and on social media, with various persons in the media, including Umaru Sanda of Citi FM and Gabby Otchere-Darko, as well as renowned persons in Civil Society like Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI, raising questions over how such an unpardonable error could have been overlooked in the first official job of Mr Malor.

On Social media generally, various persons have wondered if this mistake by the expert is a sign of things to come while others concluded that the error clearly betrays Mr Malor's competence and establishes the fact that his appointment was as usual one of the 'job for the boys' appointments that have become characteristic of President John Mahama.

Another obvious irregularity with the press release issued and signed by Mr Dotse-Malor was the change in his portfolio from what was announced. Though he was announced as Head of Communications at the Presidency, he identified himself in his Press Release as the Spokesperson to the President, prompting questions over whether there have already been a subtle change in his portfolio and whether elements like Stan Dogbe who were known to be in charge of Communications at the Presidency had succeeded in demoting Dotse-Malor from his announced position.

Rather interestingly, Stan Dogbe, who is rumored to have been upset by the appointment of Mr Dotse-Malor, on a post he was tagged in on the errors in the press release and questions it raised, commented that he (Stan Dogbe) should not be tagged in 'such Hogwash'. It is not known whether the ‘Hogwash’ refers to the Press Release of Mr Dotse Malor as Stan failed to make any further comments to clarify himself.

While Mr Dotse-Malor has come under heavy bashing on radio and on social media for his blunders, some have also come to his defense and suggested that the errors contained in the release could just be the first signals of the sabotage Mr Dotse-Malor would suffer from persons in government who are not happy with his appointment.