Handbook on political campaigning launched

Accra, June 20, GNA - A handbook on the Politics of Campaigning and Winning Elections, outlining strategies for effective campaign for victory was launched in Accra on Wednesday. Authored by Dr. Kwadwo Adom Tufuor, a theologian and publisher based in the United States of America, the 66-page handbook is based on an independent study of electoral systems and processes in African countries and western democracies.

The handbook has write-ups on Political Campaign Speeches, Getting the Field Ready, Party Splits, Pragmatic Defections, Party Fusions, Coalition and Using the Media, among others. Dr Tufuor told newsmen that he was motivated to write the book after his personal research revealed that no such book had ever been published by a Ghanaian. He said the book had therefore been published with no inclination to particular theories or philosophies, but purely based on strategies to help political candidates to become winners. He noted that, being a successful politician was not only based on ones formal education, saying; "You can have a PhD in Political Science, but this alone cannot make you a good politician."

Dr Tufuor said most politicians had flopped because of lack of ineffective campaign strategies, often based on propaganda which was not responsive to the needs of the electorate. The author described the book as "having all the relevant information about politics that the politician would never want the electorate to know".

Mr. Dave Agbenu, Organising Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), who launched the book, said it had come at the appropriate time as the country prepared to go to the polls in December. He said the GJA was also planning to hold an election guideline workshop for journalists soon to enhance their skills to report accurately during the elections. Mr. Agbenu reiterated the need for journalists to be neutral and always work in the public interest.