Former Presidential Communications Director, Koku Anyidoho
Former Presidential Communications Director Koku Anyidoho has stressed the need for political parties to provide adequate training to their agents who represent them in elections.
In his first book, Uncompromising Thoughts: Leafing Out National Issues, the author described planning and strategy as the surest way to win elections, rather than dependence on the EC to manipulate elections in its own favor.
On pages 96 and 97 of the book, the author points out that it would be advisable for political parties to invest in the training of their agents so that they can master the electoral processes.
If the answer to the question ‘Does the European Commission have the ability to manipulate elections in favour of political parties?’ is ‘yes’, then this would be possible if the political parties conspire and use agents who know almost nothing about the electoral process.
“With the existing voting and counting system in Ghana, political parties need to invest in training staff who are proficient in the procedures and processes that govern the electoral process. The question is: is the Electoral Commission of Ghana capable of rigging elections in favour of political parties? If the answer is yes, then this would only be possible if the political parties conspire to employ staff who know next to nothing about the voting, voting, counting and collation processes.”
“When political parties in Ghana lose elections and continue to blame the EC and cry foul, it is all because the parties have not adequately prepared for ‘war’. He who knows himself knows his ‘enemy’. He will decide how best to defeat the ‘enemy’. Of course, the EC as a human institution can be compromised, but that would only happen if a large number of political parties were ill-prepared.”
Mr Anyidoho explained: “Political parties must realise that politics and canvassing are not an exercise in ignorance and empty propaganda because the art of winning elections relies on scientific collection and analysis of data. Planning and strategy are the surest ways to win an election and not dependence on the EC to manipulate elections in their favour.”
The book is, among other things, a chronicle of Koku’s experiences with President Atta-Mills and the presidency and also offers some insights into the late president’s leadership style.
It also captures some aspects of President Jerry John Rawlings’ time as president and offers insights into how Koku continues to pursue the nation-building agenda.
The story of how President Nana Akufo-Addo agreed to the construction of Asomdwe Park is succinctly illustrated.
The 200-page book is a compilation of articles by Samuel Koku Anyidoho. The articles cover politics, education, religion, development and international politics in Ghana.
The first chapter of the book takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through the lives of two of Ghana’s most influential presidents, the late Jerry John Rawlings and the late John Evans Atta Mills.
The book contains a view that was once as close as possible to the highest position of power in the country, and secondly that of a careful observer of many decisions made by subsequent positions of power. It is a ruthless narrative, a ruthless report and a must-read.
The book will also prompt the reader to ask important questions about Ghana’s lagging development from different perspectives.
