All Inclusive Campaign Needed But NPP Can’t Do Without Radio Talk Shows

Immediate past General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie has commended his successor, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong for his all inclusive campaign approach in the run-up to the 2016 elections.

General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwabena Agyei Agyapong has stated that political talk shows alone do not win elections.

Reacting to his boycott of Joy Fm's Newsfile program on electoral reforms, Kwabena Agyapong reiterated that the current NPP leadership will not allow a situation where NPP Communicators are on radio stations for political talk shows all the time.

Commenting on the issue, Sir John as he is largely known, said inasmuch as he agrees with his party's General Secretary for his strategies ahead of the 2016 elections, the campaign of NPP cannot be fully materialized without radio political talk shows in the country.

Speaking on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Sir John said it is very important to engage in political talk shows on radio stations as research has shown majority of Ghanaians listen to Politicians' messages on radio every day.

“So I agree with Kwabena Agyapong that we have to move to the ground but while we are at, we need to equally sell our messages on radio talk shows; otherwise communicators will not be needed if not to go and talk on radio on behalf of the party's ideologies and aspirations….I know the communication machinery of NPP is paramount to Kwabena Agyapong; he is in-charge and he is working underground to give strategic directives on how to disseminate the party's information to Ghanaians”.

“So while we are working on radio, we should equally work on the grounds with the grassroots; I agree with him that it is not only on radio we should work for the party but on the grounds as well. We should also work in homes of Ghanaians and in commercial vehicles; but the most important thing is the message should must reach the intended audience….We are fully behind the General Secretary in wrestling power from NDC and we are waiting for whatever strategy he comes up with”, he assured.

He revealed for instance that the Communication machinery of NPP cannot go to the three Northern Regions with the erratic power supply since these regions are not experiencing the hardship from the “Dumsor” [erratic power supply].

He emphasized that the campaign messages should be designed to meet the pressing needs of every region the communication team will as the hardships in the country varies from region to another.

To him, in pursuit of political power in 2016, NPP will do whatever it takes to win the elections as the opposition cannot afford to allow the NDC government to continue to stay in power and “kill” Ghanaians will their bad policies; insisting that they [NPP] have to win to turn back the fortunes of the country with Nana Akufo Addo as President of Ghana.

To his party folks, he said “whether your names are mentioned or not, all of us are joining the campaign train of NPP to wrestle power from the NDC government in 2016”.