An official representative of the CDD wonders why the EC president, the deputies have become spokespersons

General News of Saturday, June 1st, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-06-01

The director of programs at Ghana's Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Nana Kwabena Aborampah Mensah, asked the Electoral Commission to reform its communications department to ensure effective dissemination of information.

He noted that the absence of an operational public relations department, in particular, undermined the image of the Commission chaired by Jean Mensa.

EC leaders have recently been criticized for allowing Ms Mensa and her deputies to become the Commission's spokesperson and daily spokespersons who, according to critics, have become very combative in their dealings with political parties.

Almost all the statements from the headquarters of the European Commission were recently signed by Ms Mensa or one of her deputies, Bossman Asare, apart from the fact that the spokesperson for the Commission was interviewed by the press.

The President of the European Commission, citing criticisms of certain Commission decisions, said that her leadership would not allow any political party, and even the inter-party advisory committee to unravel the Commission on the measures to be taken.

Last weekend, Professor Gyampo, a lecturer in political science, weighed heavily on the leadership of the EC, saying that the president and her deputies could not be spokespersons and spokespersons for the Commission.

"This work must be done by qualified communicators. The problems of the Commission can be explained in the public domain by those who are well trained and who are currently paid by the taxpayer for this job description, "he insisted.

Aborampah Mensah commented on Saturday on TV3 Key Points, a news badysis program, about the need for the EC to have a public relations department in a position to speak out on issues that may arise in the future. place to respond to public concerns.

"Previously, there was a public relations department and a public relations officer … Dzapkasu, public relations officer, who issued statements. On several occasions, I wondered why Bossman approved the press releases. Where is the PR? Asked Mr. Aborampah Mensah.

He asked the EC to "reform and organize their public relations service so that the public relations officer carries out some of these tasks as a qualified communicator will communicate something".

In his view, as EC leaders are continually attacked by some political parties and the public, they should "develop thick skin".

"Because you are furious and angry, you risk being insulting … and that's not good for the image of the Commission," he said.

For him, the commissioners should only speak when it is necessary to solve a relevant problem.