The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has called on government communicators and the Majority Caucus in Parliament to aggressively counter what he describes as unsubstantiated claims by the Minority that government policies and initiatives are “scams” and “shams.”
In a social media post on Sunday, Prof. Gyampo said government communication must become more proactive in defending the policies and achievements of the John Mahama administration against what he termed misinformation and propaganda.
“Speaking as a member of government, I would say that our communication machinery must become more proactive and responsive,” he stated.
According to him, effective communication is not only about announcing government achievements but also about protecting the integrity of government policies and ensuring citizens are accurately informed.
“Failure to promptly counter misinformation or unsubstantiated allegations may create an erroneous perception that the Government is underperforming when evidence suggests otherwise,” he said.
Prof. Gyampo accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some members of the Minority Caucus of repeatedly characterising government initiatives as “scams” or “shams” through Parliament, media engagements and social media platforms without providing sufficient evidence.
He argued that those making such allegations should be challenged to identify the specific policy, project or expenditure involved and provide credible evidence to support their claims.
“The Majority Caucus and government spokespersons should not allow such narratives to dominate the public space unchecked,” he stressed.
He added that “timely responses, fact-based press releases and engagement with the media are essential to ensure that Ghanaians receive balanced information and are able to assess competing claims objectively.”
As part of measures to counter what he described as propaganda, Prof. Gyampo proposed the establishment of a Rapid Response Communication Team to monitor statements made by opposition figures and issue immediate fact-based responses.
He also called for the regular publication of government performance scorecards covering projects, economic indicators, employment figures and social interventions, backed by independent reports and audited data.
The GPHA CEO further urged members of the Majority Caucus to more vigorously defend government policies in Parliament and through media engagements while encouraging government communicators to intensify their presence on radio, television and social media platforms.
Prof. Gyampo also suggested that legal action could be considered where false and defamatory statements are deliberately published to damage reputations or undermine confidence in public institutions.
“Democracy thrives on vigorous debate, but debate must be grounded in facts rather than slogans,” he said.
He maintained that the most effective response to opposition criticism is not insults or counter-propaganda but “a disciplined, evidence-based and legally conscious communication strategy” that reassures Ghanaians that government remains accountable, transparent and focused on delivering results.
The comments come amid heightened political debate between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition NPP over the performance and policies of the Mahama administration.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
