By Daniel Bampoe
A sharp political debate has erupted over a document purportedly outlining strategies for government communicators to counter opposition criticism, with broadcast journalist and aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director, Gordon Asare-Bediako, launching a blistering rebuttal against political scientist Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Evans Owusu.
In a strongly worded public response, Mr. Asare-Bediako described the recommendations attributed to Prof. Gyampo and Mr. Owusu as evidence of what he called growing anxiety within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the document revealed a government struggling to defend its record in office.
The controversy stems from a communication strategy reportedly titled “Strategic Recommendations for Countering Propaganda,” which sought to provide government communicators with tools to respond to opposition narratives and criticisms of government policies and programmes.
According to Mr. Asare-Bediako, the very existence of such a document raises questions about the government’s confidence in its own performance.
He argued that governments delivering tangible improvements in the lives of citizens do not need elaborate communication machinery to convince the public of their achievements.
“You do not need a Rapid Response Communication Team to defend a government that is working,” he stated, adding that citizens naturally recognize improvements in their living conditions through stable prices, employment opportunities, a strong currency, and reliable public services.
The NPP communicator contended that rather than losing a battle of narratives, the government was facing public dissatisfaction over economic and governance issues.
He suggested that attempts to frame opposition criticism as propaganda amounted to an effort to divert attention from challenges confronting ordinary Ghanaians.
Mr. Asare-Bediako also rejected claims that the opposition labels government initiatives as scams or failures without evidence.
According to him, criticism from the NPP and Minority in Parliament is rooted in concerns over unfulfilled promises and the economic realities facing citizens.
He questioned what he described as unmet expectations regarding job creation, cost-of-living relief, and prudent management of public resources. In his view, the opposition’s criticisms reflect concerns being expressed by many Ghanaians rather than a coordinated misinformation campaign.
A major aspect of his response focused on transparency and accountability. He challenged government officials to publish audited figures, procurement details, project costs, and performance reports for public scrutiny.
According to him, any genuine effort to assess government performance should be based on verifiable data and measurable outcomes rather than communication campaigns.
“Let us put your projects side by side with what the NPP delivered and allow the Ghanaian people to judge,” he argued, insisting that objective comparisons would provide a clearer picture of governance outcomes.
Mr. Asare-Bediako further criticized suggestions that legal avenues could be used to address what government communicators consider false or misleading claims.
He described such recommendations as potentially intimidating to critics and warned against any actions that could be perceived as attempts to suppress free expression.
He stressed that democratic governance thrives on accountability, debate, and criticism, noting that opposition parties and citizens have a constitutional right to question government decisions and policies.
The aspiring NPP Communications Director reserved some of his strongest criticism for Prof. Gyampo, who previously lectured him at the university level.
Addressing the academic directly, he argued that the proposed communication framework amounted to an admission that government achievements were unable to withstand public scrutiny without extensive public relations efforts.
He described the strategy as less of a communication blueprint and more of a reflection of what he sees as growing concerns within government circles about public perception and confidence.
Mr. Asare-Bediako concluded by reaffirming the NPP’s commitment to scrutinizing government policies and demanding accountability, insisting that political criticism would continue regardless of attempts to counter or dismiss opposition narratives.
“The Ghanaian people know the difference between propaganda and performance,” he stated, arguing that ultimate judgment on government performance rests with citizens themselves.
