The constitutional and fundamental responsibility of any government after winning political power is to deliver on the promises outlined in its manifesto. A government’s performance should ultimately speak for itself through effective policies and tangible development outcomes.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s recent relaunch of its communication platform, dubbed “Setting the Record Straight,” appears to be largely reactive to political narratives and soundbites from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which many believe has recently gained momentum in shaping public discourse on government policies and performance, often portraying the government negatively.
As the political party that forms the government, it is important for the NDC’s communication machinery to adopt a more proactive strategy in projecting the achievements and successes of the administration. Effective communication is essential in ensuring that the government’s accomplishments are properly communicated to the public.
Gradually, the opposition seems to be winning the moral and media arguments against the government by consistently presenting counterarguments on key policy issues. While some of these claims may be misleading or inaccurate, the relaunch of the “Setting the Record Straight” platform suggests that the opposition may currently have significant influence over public and media discourse, whether the narratives being promoted are true or false.
These remarks were made by Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, a political analyst, senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, and Executive Director of the Africa Institute of Strategic Studies, during the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Alexander Nana Dogber in Accra.
Dr. Otchere expressed the view that party communicators must adopt more effective strategies in communicating government achievements. Although the government has official communication appointees, he argued that party communicators also play a critical role in responding to misinformation and filling communication gaps created by opposition narratives.
In a related development, the Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC, Godwin Ako Gunn, accused the opposition NPP of engaging in a deliberate campaign of misinformation and propaganda aimed at undermining the government and distorting public perception.
Speaking at the relaunch of the “Setting the Record Straight” communication platform, Gunn stated that the initiative was intended to counter what he described as persistent falsehoods and politically motivated narratives targeted at the governing NDC.
According to him, the NPP had revived what he described as its “well-known machinery of misinformation, half-truths and calculated propaganda” in an attempt to manipulate public opinion and rewrite recent political history.
Gunn said the NDC had learned important lessons from the 2016 general elections, arguing that the party’s defeat was not necessarily due to poor governance, but rather its inability to aggressively counter propaganda and effectively communicate its achievements.
He cited several projects undertaken under previous NDC administrations, including the construction and rehabilitation of more than 3,000 kilometres of roads, the establishment of over 200 community-based senior high schools known as E-blocks, and major infrastructure projects such as Terminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport and the expansion of Kumasi International Airport.
The deputy communications officer argued that these achievements were overshadowed by what he described as fabricated scandals and misinformation campaigns propagated by political opponents.
He further recalled that after the administration of late former President Jerry John Rawlings, the incoming government of former President John Agyekum Kufuor allegedly distorted the accomplishments of the NDC through sustained propaganda.
Gunn credited the original “Setting the Record Straight” initiative, which was led by current NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, with helping to restore public confidence in the party.
Addressing recent controversies, Gunn dismissed allegations that public funds had been used to purchase four aircraft for President John Dramani Mahama, describing the claims as “palpably false” and irresponsible.
He also defended the Bank of Ghana against criticism surrounding its reported GH¢15 billion intervention in the economy, insisting that the move was a strategic investment aimed at stabilising the country’s macroeconomic environment.
According to him, the intervention contributed to reduced inflation, lower debt-to-GDP levels, easing cost-of-living pressures, and strengthening the local currency. Gunn also rejected claims by the NPP that the central bank had incurred losses amounting to GH¢44 billion, describing the assertions as unsubstantiated propaganda intended to erode public trust in state institutions.
He stressed that while the NDC welcomed constructive criticism, it would strongly challenge what he termed deliberate falsehoods, character assassination, and coordinated propaganda campaigns.
“The Ghanaian voter deserves to be informed, not misled.”
Gunn also commended government appointees and the Ministry of Government Communications for improving public engagement through initiatives such as the “Accounting to the People” series.
He urged party executives and members to remain united and disciplined as the NDC undertakes its internal reorganisation processes, adding that the party remains committed to transparency, effective governance, and defending the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
