The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has re-launched its “Setting the Records Straight” campaign as part of a renewed communication strategy aimed at countering what it describes as misinformation and propaganda from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The campaign is expected to focus heavily on defending the government’s economic management after 17 months in office, particularly in response to public concerns about the economy, governance, and state institutions. Party communicators say the initiative will provide factual explanations and policy clarifications to maintain public confidence in the administration’s agenda.
A major aspect of the campaign involves responding to allegations concerning losses at the Bank of Ghana, with the NDC arguing that some narratives being circulated by political opponents are misleading or lack proper context. The party also intends to highlight what it considers key achievements and reforms undertaken by the government since assuming office.
According to party officials, the relaunch will involve coordinated media engagements, grassroots communication, and policy education programmes designed to ensure that citizens receive what the NDC describes as accurate information about government decisions and national economic performance.
Speaking on Ahotor Adekye Mu Nsem, hosted by Kofi Owusu, Hon. Godwin Ako Gann centred his remarks on comments made by former President Jerry John Rawlings in August 2016, cautioning the party against imitating the conduct of the NPP. According to Hon. Ako Gann, the late statesman warned that political parties may change their names but often maintain similar patterns of behaviour if they fail to uphold discipline, accountability, and the founding principles upon which they were established.
Hon. Ako Gann further argued that between 1992 and 2000, the NPP consistently accused the NDC administration of electoral malpractice and made several allegations against former President Rawlings, including claims relating to political violence and governance failures. He claimed that after former President John Agyekum Kufuor assumed office, the NPP continued accusing the NDC of economic mismanagement. However, according to him, the Kufuor administration itself failed to meet public expectations despite serving two terms in office.
He stated that during the administrations of the late President John Evans Atta Mills and President John Dramani Mahama, the NPP intensified what he described as a deliberate misinformation campaign against the NDC government. According to him, despite major infrastructure and social intervention projects undertaken under President Mahama, political opponents branded him with labels such as “Papa No” and “Dumsor President,” negatively affecting public perception of his leadership and competence.
Hon. Ako Gann argued that the sustained criticism and political narratives eventually influenced public confidence, leading many Ghanaians to vote the NPP into power in 2016. However, he maintained that the NPP administration later mismanaged the economy and significantly increased Ghana’s debt burden. He therefore challenged the NPP to defend its own governance record while the NDC continues its “Setting the Records Straight” campaign to counter what it considers misleading political narratives.
Hon. Ako Gann also urged Ghanaians to disregard what he described as misinformation and falsehoods being spread by the NPP about the current NDC government. According to him, the economy is showing signs of improvement under the present administration. He further called on the NPP to abandon what he described as divisive political tactics and propaganda targeted at communities, including cocoa-farming areas, for political advantage.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah.