NDC against Dotsei Malor's appointment

There is a lot of agitation in the National Democratic Congress and the John Mahama government over the appointment of veteran journalist, Ben Dotse Malor, as Head of Communications at the presidency, with open questions and criticisms of the appointment by insiders and commentators with close links to the NDC machinery.

Mr. Dotse Malor’s appointment which came without any consultation within the party seems to be a clear statement of no confidence in the current government communication handlers, some of whom are visibly outraged by the action of the President.

But the biggest drawback to Mr. Dotse Malor is the fact that he is a complete outsider in the NDC’s scheme of doing things and lacks an understanding of the NDC’s machinery and way of doing things.

Signals from the corridors of power indicate that Mr. Dotse Malor will find it extremely difficult working with the current NDC communication set up, most of whom are upset with the appointment and are unwilling to work with or take any orders from Mr. Dotse Malor.

Mr. Malor is seen as a new face who contributed nothing while the NDC was in the trenches facing more difficult times, and has only been brought in when things are easy, to take the shine off the hardworking young men whose commitment to the NDC has kept the government and party going.

An insider at the presidency who spoke to the Ghanaian Observer on condition on anonymity revealed the gravity of the agitation against Mr. Ben Malor’s appointment. “I know that Stan Dogbe is not happy, Ayariga was already not happy at the Information Ministry and this has worsened his plight, Ofosu Kwakye and Murtala who seem to be engaging in a turf war over control of the Ministry are also not happy with this new appointment because take it or leave it, these young guys have done much better to steer communication in the last year, compared to what Koku, John Tia and Fritz Baffour, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Baba Jamal and James Agyenim Boateng did under Mills. And with what I know, I have no doubt that Mr. Ben Malor would face a mountain of challenges and would likely be made to fail to teach the President a lesson.”

Interestingly, one of the first critics of Ben Dotse Malor’s appointment was Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., a well-known confidante of the Ahwois and many NDC insiders, and someone who has played a key part in helping shape the NDC’s communications since their days in opposition.

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo on Monday, Mr. Pratt questioned the appointment and raised issues on the confusion this new appointment would bring with the already established structures.

Mr. Pratt raised the issue of what seemed like a duplication of roles as Stan Xoese Dogbe is also known to be in charge of communications at the presidency.

Apart from Mr. Pratt’s comments, the appointment of Mr. Malor has uncharacteristically failed to see the ardent defense of NDC communicators on the media landscape as has become known with other actions of the President which are defended vehemently by the communicators.

At best, the NDC representatives on radio and various media platforms have defended the President’s right to make the appointment, but always stop short of defending Mr. Malor’s competence and the need to have him in the role he has been appointed to.

Another indication of the resistance Mr. Dotse Malor’s appointment is facing internally is the failure of the numerous NDC press to accord any importance to it and their refusal to defend the appointment on their front pages.