Yaw Adomako Baafi, a former director of communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a member of the team led by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party's flagbearer in the 2024 presidential election, has bemoaned the lack of attention paid to party communicators in the run-up to the general elections.
He said that party communicators were excluded and that their entitlements to allowances were denied.
In an interview with Okay FM on December 23, 2024, Adomako Baafi cited Dr. Bawumia's post-election claim that the party's defeat was caused in part by certain media outlets' lack of support for the party.
He maintained that senior party leaders who were in charge of overseeing the communication team and the media should also bear some of the guilt.
Adomako Baafi said that the NPP's communication budget was poorly managed, whereas John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was paying his media staff up to GH¢1,000.
He accused Dr. Bawumia's campaign's communication director, Miracles Aboagye, in particular, of neglecting to respond to party communicators' concerns or give them the compensation they were entitled to.
What was the salary of our people? And did they even receive the money?
"A few young lads who weren't even involved in... As a communication specialist, Nana Akufo-Addo's communication budget is unprecedented; yet, who was responsible for overseeing the funds?
"Bawumia had a strong communication background as well, but the budget manager... Since Bawumia was working with good intentions, I doubt that he was informed of what was going on. "I am confident that all sixteen regions will compile a report detailing the amount that each individual received for the campaign," he added, adding that he believed everyone.
Adomako Baafi recommended that in order to comprehend the distribution of resources, a thorough report on the distribution of campaign funding across all 16 regions should be prepared.
"Bawumia handed me anything to use in my campaign when we met in Kumasi, but the party communication that said we were under his leadership... Who was meant to tell us how much we were supposed to receive, miracles? Inquire as to why he answered his phone in the first place.
Was there a team or just one person involved in the communication? It has never occurred before. He was one of the well-known leaders when I worked for Akomeah.
He delegated power and never took charge of the situation himself. In order for everyone to receive their portion, Akomeah will divide the small sum of money you offer him. Akomeah would make sure that every member of his team travels with him whenever we go somewhere," he continued.
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