This abuse of incumbency!
At first glance, it looks innocuous. If anything at all, the picture of President John Dramani Mahama shaking hands with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is supposed to advance the visibility of the State of Ghana in the international arena.
It is the caption that gives the game away. “This week,” states the advertisement in a number of local newspapers, “H.E. President John Dramani Mahama is meeting global leaders such as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon and other heads of state to discuss issues and opportunities that affect Ghana and the world.”
Watch the live screening of President John Mahama’s address at the United Nations this Wednesday, 26 September. For more information on the live streaming times, go to www.johnmahama.org. A BETTER GHANA. Jobs. Stability. Development.”
The advertisement ends with the NDC logo and the words: “NDC, NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS.” My understanding is that the space was bought and paid for by the ruling National Democratic Congress as part of the 2012 presidential campaign.
The Chronicle is not surprised that what is a clearly state event is being exploited as if the National Democratic Congress sponsored the President’s trip to the United Nations. Over the years, the incumbent has used state events as if they were sponsored by the various political parties that prop up those administrations.
The NDC, particularly, has a history of using state events as if they were the party’s creation. The party itself was born in government. As a matter of fact, it was the entire government machinery that was turned into the NDC, with officers of state working for the party.
Since 1992, when the NDC was born in government, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Though much of it has been very muddy, the notion is that after 20 years of behaving as if the party and government are one and the same, the NDC would have found reasons to change tactics over the years.
The Chronicle is disappointed that the President, a communication expert, who should know where the party departs from the government, would allow this state function to be turned into a party political broadcast.
We would like to believe that it is this kind of thinking that has over the last two decades informed some of the actions of members of government, who go out of their way to defend certain individuals in the party who have issues with the state.
The way and manner the Woyome scandal, for instance, was defended by senior members of government gave credence to the notion that many senior members of this administration equate party issues and personnel of the party to state agents.
It was the State of Ghana that funded the President’s trip to the United Nations. That is why we are sad that the President has allowed his meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a meeting sponsored by the State, to be used as party propaganda material.
The Chronicle is inviting the President to sanction officers who have turned the state event into a party propaganda tool. It is in his own interest to be seen to decipher state-sponsored events from party propaganda broadcast.
This abuse of incumbency has been one too many!
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