Defending The Indefensible
Every morning in Ghana, countless radio and television stations host panels of “party communicators” whose task is simple yet troubling. To defend everything their party does and condemn everything opponents propose. This has become the dominant mode of public discourse --- loud, partisan, and often misleading.
But does this model help our young democracy? Does it deepen citizens’ understanding of national issues? Or does it only divide us further?
The daily partisan theater
Tune in to stations like Okay FM, Neat FM, UTV’s Adekye Nsroma, or TV3’s New Day, and you will often hear NPP and NDC communicators trading accusations. One side accuses the government of corruption and mismanagement; the other counters with slogans about “competence” and “better records”. Facts become elastic, and data is cherry-picked or invented. Rarely does anyone ask: What do the numbers really say?
As Professor Audrey Gadzekpo of the University of Ghana’s School of Communication Studies once noted, “Political communication in Ghana is largely adversarial, rarely analytical, and almost never educational.” This observation sadly still holds true.
How advanced democracies do it
Ghana has a blend of the American and British systems of government. We are operating with a Constitution many do not understand, thank God we have a Supreme Court to help out when we get stuck. These advanced democracies also feature partisan debate, but with safeguards.
In the UK, shows like BBC’s Newsnight or Channel 4’s FactCheck regularly pit politicians against economists, professors, or investigative journalists who test their claims. In Germany, public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF) ensure that complex policy issues are first explained by independent experts before politicians debate them. Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, and Denmark) go further. Daily political shows focus less on partisan sound bites and more on in-depth policy analysis by subject specialists.
These systems are not perfect, but they reflect a shared principle. The public deserves truth and context, not endless party slogans.
Why Ghana defaults to party communicators
- Cost and convenience: inviting party communicators fills airtime cheaply;
- Partisan media ownership: some outlets exist mainly to push party lines;
- Weak regulation: bodies like the National Media Commission (NMC) have limited enforcement power;
- Public demand shaped by habit: after years of being fed partisan debate, many listeners expect it, even if it leaves them less informed.
But the result is worrying. Politics becomes a team sport, and national issues are reduced to tribal slogans.
Ghana can do better
Imagine if, instead of two communicators yelling over each other about inflation, stations invited an economist from the University of Ghana to explain what drives inflation, or a Bank of Ghana official to clarify monetary policy, or a civil society advocate to discuss how rising prices affect the poor. This model wouldn’t ban politicians. Rather, it would balance them with credible voices who explain, question, and educate. Citizens would learn more and vote more thoughtfully.
As media scholar Dr. Etse Sikanku argues, “Our media must shift from transmission to transformation --- from merely broadcasting opinions to shaping an informed citizenry.”
Concrete steps forward
- Regulatory encouragement: the NMC can reward outlets that feature subject specialists and factual programming;
- Building a national roster of experts: universities and think tanks could supply trained media explainers;
- Invest in fact-checking: GhanaFact, Dubawa, and other groups should be given more airtime;
- Media literacy campaigns: teach listeners to value substance over slogans.
A call to action
Ghana’s democracy will be 70 years old soon. As we celebrate our county’s platinum, what will we say then? Did our media educate citizens to judge policies on merit, or did it merely entertain us with partisan shouting?
It is time to turn down the volume of party communicators and amplify the voices of experts. Democracy depends not just on having the right to speak, but on having something true and useful to say.
FUSEINI ABDULAI BRAIMAH
+233550558008 / +233208282575
afusb55@yahoo.com
Ghanaian essayist and information provider whose writings weave research, history and lived experience into thought-provoking commentary.
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