The Greater Accra Regional branch of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has at a capacity building programme, trained it communicators to equip them with the necessary skills and information to enable them discharge their responsibilities diligently for the governing party.
The one-day programme held at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) last Thursday, is one of many deliberate programmes by the party in the region, as it readies itself for campaigning towards the November 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Among the groups within the communication department that benefited from the capacity building programme, were regional communication committee members, constituency communication officers and their deputies, selected communicators, media analysts and regular radio and TV panelists.
Speakers at the workshop included, Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Aide to the Vice President and a former Deputy Minister of Information, James Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, party elder and ex-Information Minster under ex-president Jerry Rawlings, Kofi Totobi Quakye, NDC National Communication Officer, Solomon Nkansah and his deputy, Fred Agbenyo, broadcaster and Member of Parliament (MP) aspirant for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini and many others, including Peter Bamfo an Office Administrator at Flagstaff House. Briefing the media on the sidelines of the workshop, Regional Communication Officer, Jerry Johnson said, the training was one of the regular programmes put in place to equip communicators to explain party and government programmes to Ghanaians, ahead of the elections.
“It’s a strategy that we have as a party, and so we are going according to the strategy that we have. Almost every year, we do capacity building to equip our communicators to sell the policies and programmes government is doing to the masses”, Jerry said.
He explained that, members of the party may have been recruited without being professional communicators, and so it was important that, they are taken though such programmes to equip them properly with the right information to enable them disseminate government programmes and policies better.
He was hopeful that at the end of the workshop, beneficiary communicators, will be equipped enough to do what they are expected.
National Communication Officer, Solomon Nkansah, who with his deputy, added national executive touch said, the workshop would be replicated in other regions to bring communicators up to speed on government projects, programmes and activities so that they can communicate to the electorates better to win their hearts and minds.
He added that, the NDC, has studied the needs and wants of Ghanaians and they shall give them the right information, so that it will inform their choice of leadership, which he concluded will be none other than President John Dramani Mahama.
Regional Youth Organizer, Anthony Nukpenu said, there are seven organs under the regional secretariat namely, the chairman, secretaries, organizers, women, youth, treasurer, and communication departments.
All these groupings, he said need to understand what the party stands for, what the party and government are doing, hence the workshop for the communication segment.
Similar programmes he mentioned, would be organized for the other groups in the party.
He added that, the act of communication, is not just about picking up a phone to speak on radio, but to put a message across well, so that the listeners will understand, buy into them and absorb, especially at a time that there are new trends as a result of technology and dynamics of society, which communicators need to adapt to, and be abreast with.
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