Zita’s Foul Zest; Ayariga’s Faux Pas

The Minister of Information, Zita Okaikoi, and Presidential Spokesperson Mahama Ayariga have in the past few days been busy complaining and insulting, and surprisingly, about the presentation of the President's “Ghanaians Complain Too Much” story and the emanating flaks.

Ironically, the story which was carried by a state paper headlined “Mills Is Angry” did not matter as much as the Daily Guide's when the duo embarked on its insulting spree in the name of presenting the presidency in a good light.

One thing about managing the Public Relations machinery of a government or a corporate entity is that those in charge must exhibit a high sense of circumspection in their speeches.

When there is a proclivity towards showering invectives directly or otherwise, the underbelly of the government they seek to protect is exposed for direct hits from the return fire of the medium they direct invectives at.

We are at a loss over just what the duo sought to achieve by the useless mission it embarked upon, following the story which emanated from the speeches of President Mills in the Ashanti Region.

We state here and now, without any apprehension of contradiction that President John Evans Atta Mills did express concern about what for him are incessant complaints from Ghanaians about his inability to change their lot since assuming power ten or so months ago.

What was the import of the speeches of President Mills when he particularly spoke in the Zongo community in the Ashanti Regional capital?

Did he not express worry that Ghanaians are expecting rather prematurely changes within ten months of his assumption of power?

So what is wrong with a headline “Ghanaians Complain Too Much” and attributable to President Mills?

It is amazing that when the duo was given the marching orders to react, given the flak the presidency received from the publication, it took the path of belligerency.

Zita's interest in newspaper headlining was evident even before she mesmerized members of the Appointments Committee with her performance.

The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) might have to consider engaging the Madam for a part-time appointment in sub-editing. We just wonder whether the Kpone/Katamanso MP and now a Minister of State at the Presidency has revised his impression about the lady.

When a fumbling minister turns sub-editor overnight, alongside managing propaganda at the Information Ministry, the outcome can only be invectives and a further ostracisation of government by sections of the country. Is this what an Information Minister is expected to do?

Having ordered two radio stations to remove a story on the President's remarks about Ghanaians' incessant complaints, from their sites because she finds these unsavoury to the presidency, it is only fair and proper to question her understanding of the Freedom to Information Bill and her sincerity towards that cause.

Is she sending Ghana back to the undemocratic days of culture of silence when stories distasteful to government were either killed or the writers silenced by all means?

To be fair to the lady, she still has not been able to find her feet and balance in a department she has already spent ten months in.

If Hon Mahana Ayariga can associate the Daily Guide with what he considers gutter journalism, we can only pardon him for not knowing exactly what he is talking about. If he decides to associate our operations with gutter journalism, we would forgive him but refer him to the five tractors and the spirits of the dead in the Bawku conflict. Mischievous politics begets death.

We dare Zita and Ayariga to have the recorded speeches played out for Ghanaians to differentiate between verity and “eye-service” propaganda. Shame!

Credit: Daily Guide