Goosie Obuadum Tandoh, the Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy
Goosie Obuadum Tandoh, the Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to develop a communication strategy to manage public expectations while staying true to its fundamental promises.
He noted that Ghanaians generally understood the country’s current challenges and were willing to endure them if they could see a workable plan to address the problems scientifically and rationally.
“Ghanaians are willing to cope with the difficulty if we tell the obvious truth repeatedly, in terms and ways that speak to their lived experiences,” he said.
Tandoh was speaking at a conference on the Transition from Elections to Governance in Ghana, jointly organized by the African Centre for Governance and Economic Management and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
The programme, themed “From Election to Governance in Ghana: Managing the Results,” was attended by representatives from academia, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the NDC.
Tandoh explained that the communication plan should not consist of occasional statements from the Flagstaff House or party headquarters but should be a well-thought-out strategic initiative that leverages all media resources—both state and private—to keep the public informed.
The message should also foster meaningful engagement by discussing targets and performance and ensuring that citizens feel heard by leadership and are part of the process of resolving national challenges.
“Ghanaians are willing to work with the government rather than against it if there are clear signs that the government shares their pain instead of operating within pampered elite bubbles,” Tandoh noted.
He criticized government appointees who use 4×4 vehicles with dark screens and motorcades, creating dust while employees struggle to find secure transportation to and from work, stating that such actions would not serve the NDC well.
He called for the remobilization of the party to take ownership of government programmes and drive them to the local and community levels—“in farmer cooperatives, in trade associations, in industry chambers, on the shop floor, and in boardrooms.”
“My point, if not already obvious, is that the first step in developing our mandate today as the NDC is urgent party reform. The NDC must once again play its intended role in national mobilization and not wither away as an electoral machine.”
On the issue of accountability, Tandoh urged the party to uphold its promises regarding improvements in governance, from the Flagstaff House down to the lower levels of the assembly system.
“We must not send signals that NDC officials are or consider themselves to be above the law,” he said.
The Flagstaff House must also not be seen as a clearinghouse for insiders who misconduct themselves, nor should it intervene in publicly constituted investigations or prosecutorial decisions.