The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to resist political propaganda and unrealistic campaign promises and make informed decisions during elections.
He said voters must critically examine political parties’ policies, ask relevant questions, compare available alternatives and exercise their democratic rights peacefully and responsibly.
“Do not surrender your judgement to political propaganda… examine the issues, compare the alternatives, ask questions and exercise your constitutional rights peacefully and responsibly,” he said.
Mr Bagbin made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of Voices for the Ballot: Electoral Communication in Ghana, a book authored by Dr Nana Sifa Twum, a strategic communication scholar and media development practitioner.
The book examines the relationship between political communication, electoral campaigns and voter behaviour within Ghana’s evolving democracy, highlighting the roles of political parties, candidates, the Electoral Commission, the media, civil society organisations and citizens.
Mr Bagbin observed that political discourse was often dominated by campaign slogans, personality-driven messages and emotional appeals at the expense of substantive policy discussions and accountability for campaign promises.
He stressed that informed citizens, credible institutions and public accountability were essential to strengthening democracy, adding that political communication must enable voters to distinguish between promises and policies, as well as allegations and established facts.
He encouraged academics, authors and researchers to critically examine Ghana’s democratic practices, identify existing challenges and recommend measures to improve the electoral system.
The Speaker also called for stronger collaboration among journalists, political communicators, electoral institutions, academia and other stakeholders to promote media literacy and responsible political engagement.
“Our ambition must be to build a democracy in which political communication does not merely persuade people to vote but equips them to understand why they are voting, what they are voting for, and how they can hold those elected accountable,” he said.
He further called for an independent, professional and responsible media capable of scrutinising power, distinguishing facts from misinformation and recognising the consequences of its reporting.
Mr Bagbin also highlighted the growing influence of social media on political communication, cautioning individuals and media practitioners against spreading falsehoods and misinformation.
He commended Dr Twum for contributing to knowledge on political and electoral communication, expressing hope that the publication would promote responsible political campaigns, educate voters and strengthen democratic institutions.
For his part, Dr Twum said electoral communication should focus on deepening democracy and helping citizens appreciate their role in national development rather than serving merely as a tool for politicians to gain power.
He disclosed that plans were underway to organise stakeholder dialogues across the country to discuss effective approaches to electoral communication.
The President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, Esther Cobbah, also underscored the importance of effective communication across various sectors, including politics, and called for political communication to be handled by professionals.
She expressed confidence that the book would make an impact both locally and internationally, serving as a valuable reference for practitioners and scholars.
Meanwhile, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Dr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, purchased copies of the book worth GH¢50,000 on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah; the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice-President, Alex Segbefia; and communication and media personnel at the party’s office.
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