‘Proper’ communicators must speak on behalf of EC; not Bossman, Jean Mensa - Prof. Gyampo

Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Yaw Gyampo has urged the leadership of the Electoral Commission(EC) to delegate communication of the activities of the commission to ‘proper’ communicators in order for the commissioners to focus on their core mandate, ABC News Ghana can report.

The comment comes on the heels of concerns expressed by a section of Ghanaians, particularly, members of the National Democratic Congress over the posturing of the EC in its dealings with the various political parties in Ghana. The NDC’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has had reason to call out officials of the EC for their handling of affairs.

The NDC has even gone as far as calling for the resignation of a deputy Chair of the commission, Dr. Bossman Asare, over what they describe as his overly partisan nature and poor communication skills.

Commenting on the issue, a former colleague of Dr. Bossman Asare at the Political Science department of the University of Ghana and Director at the Centre for European Studies (CES), Prof. Ransford Gyampo has backed the call for communications specialists to be the ones to handle the communications unit of the Electoral Commission.

According to Prof Gyampo, problems of the Commission can be best explained to the public by ‘well trained’ professionals who have already been employed to do the job.

“The chairperson and her deputies cannot be the mouthpiece and spokespersons of the commission…when Afari Gyan wasn’t talking, who spoke on behalf of the commission? When Charlotte Osei wasn’t talking, who was speaking on behalf of the EC? Not all these communicators are on retirement,” he said in an interview with ABC News Ghana.

Professor Gyampo further entreated the leadership of Ghana’s electoral body to focus on dealing with the challenges confronting the commission and not to bother with trivialities that have the potential of distracting them from their core business.

“The history of Ghana’s election administration suggests to me that EC bosses work hard behind the scenes and are sparingly heard explaining anything in the public domain themselves. While we expose partisan selfishness and advocate for sobriety in perceptions of the EC, the current crop of leadership of the EC must also play a role in dealing with the partial legitimacy deficit,” he added.

Prof Gyampo continued, “I respect the decision to transfer and hire new communicators but until new ones are recruited, the old ones must continue to work as communicators for the EC. This is a sure way to shield the headship of the commission from derogatory attacks, negative perceptions, as well as maintain the aura, tremendous respect and enigma that shrouds the headship of the commission.”