What was the Vice-president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia thinking, or should I say, drinking, when he asked the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in his latest attack to name one Social Intervention Programme in eight years from 2009-2016.
Anytime he coughs the NDC catches cold, he has become a potent medicine for their malady.
Following the pandemonium that followed this innocuous question, I have come to the conclusion that the NDC has two big problems— branding and labeling.
From all cylinders members of the NDC started firing, with articles and pronouncements. This to me is a simple question that would ordinarily require a simple answer, ended with name calling.
As I write this article, I am yet to read or hear one cogent answer to the question the vice-president posed.
In the run-up to the 2016 elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, had a home run, as the Americans will say, when he asked the then vice-president, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, some 170 questions.
Till date the 170 questions, like the one he asked last week, remain unanswered.
The greatest of blunders in the attempt to answer Dr. Bawumia, was to accept his bait on behalf of the party and take the challenge to the battalions of Ghanaians on mainstream media and social media.
As a student of the media, I have learnt that the NDC in government could never win an argument with newspapers, who buy ink in drums, so it is that in opposition today, the party cannot win an argument with multitudes on linked up keyboards.
The only argument that works for that crowd is showing them performances that improve the quality of their lives. The NDC should just name one social intervention policy, so that we can put this question behind us.
I also learnt as a marketing student that, branding separates successful businesses from the not successful ones and the NDC, has trailed the NPP, when it comes to branding.
Growing up there were some products that were the toast of many, but today many of those products cannot be found on the shelves, because the owners failed to brand them well.
Branding helps to identify a product and distinguish it from other products and services. It is important because not only is it what makes a memorable impression on consumers, but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company.
The NDC since 1992, starting with former president, Jerry John Rawlings, have in addition to branding being battling what I will again termed three key issues— the message, the messengers and the manner of delivery.
What Is Social Intervention
According to Wikipedia, Social interventionism is an action which involves the intervention of a government or an organization in social affairs. Such policies can include provision of charity or social welfare as a means to alleviate social and economic problems of people facing financial difficulties; provision of health care; provision of education; provision of safety regulations for employment and products; delivery of food aid or recovery missions to regions or countries negatively affected by an event; adoption programmes; etc.
Going by this definition, the NDC has done a lot when it comes to policy intervention; however, they have used what is known in marketing as scattergun approach without any proper branding and marketing strategies.
The Junior High School and the Senior High School programme, is a social intervention policy from the O and A level.
Every intervention by the New Patriotic Party was possible because someone had laid the foundation. They talk of the National Health Insurance policy, this was a programme that was actually piloted under the Rawling’s regime. Without hospitals that programme, would have been dead on arrival.
The current free Senior High School (SHS) that has been touted as the panacea to all our problems, can be said to be successful, because former President John Dramani Mahama, decided to built 200 community day SHS.
Truth be told, the NPP, know how to brand, label and market its policies effectively. They control the message, the messenger and the manner of delivery.
The NPP cannot be practical that is a fact, but they control the conversation. They will have you believe what they wish you to believe and that has helped them over the years.
They are able to label their policies and trumpet them, even in the face of glaring failure. Corruption is made to look lucrative and acceptable, because that is what they want us to believe.
Their policies and manner of presentation resonates well with the populace, who think whatever is happening today only started today.
However, apart from the free SHS which has been implemented by the NPP rather progressively, which is not different from what ex-president John Dramani Mahama started.
Most of the policies are just named policies or promises that are yet to see the light of day. For example, not much can be said about the Planting for Food and Job, 1Dsitrict 1 Factory, 1 million dollars per Constituency, one village one dam, etc
Looking at Akufo-Addo’s government of today, there is no doubt that just as the wagon was set sailing, the wheels are coming off and as usual the attack dog (Dr. Bawumia), has been set loose on the NDC.
Source: The Herald
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This half-witted writer should first ask Akufo Addo what he takes in the morning before making awfull decisions for the country, mixture of tramadol and 'coke', after wee and apio
"However, apart from the free SHS which has been implemented by the NPP rather progressively, which is not different from what ex-president John Dramani Mahama started". Jesus Christ is this writer in Ghana?
What the f*ck was this writer smoking when he wrote this gibberish? The free SHS became possible because Mahama decided to build 200 schools in the ***barred word***? And he succeeded in building how many?The NHIS became possible because Jerry Rawlings started a pilot scheme somewhere?The problem of the NDC my friend is not branding. The problem is that no individual in that party has any clarity of thought .Also pure greed ,avarice and selfishness. Whenever the party is in power every top party official becomes rich overnight. Of course under John Mahama this phenomenon became worst than at any time.I expect the writer to say that the NPP builds things and the NDC takes things apart.
I think this Larry Dogbe is getting his mind messed up because of their humiliated defeat. What is he talking about? he should tell us when president Rawlings NHIS started and when it ended with cash and carry! I was a grown up with kids then so I should be able to remember when that happened. I don't know what is wrong with these people about Ghana? when and where did ndc do good or thought about good intentions about Ghana forgetting their party? krakye,if you have nothing to say just relax beside your wife and have a good time ! this is rub**bish article and why at peacefm website but not yours? Ghanaians are not f000*00ls as ndc always take them to be, we remember everything about P/ndc regime and don't need Larry Dogbe and his kriminally rented Herald news paper to preach to us! you people shouldn't take our silence to be weakness but just for peace ! We are not F000*00ls ! Ghanaians know what is good for them and don't need anyone to tell us what we have to take! NPP are the best for this country,they are sensitive to Ghanaians, they are compassionate to us, they are listening and very patriotic! they portray who Ghanaians are and what we stand for! unlike wicked, callous ,cruel and insens*itive ndc who think to give to Ghanaians must be left in their office to share among themselves. Ndc is not a political party but a kriminal organisation who used Ghana as ponzi to create l000t and share. Akronfuo, Sh*t the fu-ck up.
Herald,what are you saying about the Planting for food and jobs?Are you saying not much has been achieved?Did you hear the recent account of Tepahene about what the programme has achieved in his domain?Please revise your notes!!!!
Very porous and whimsical analysis. Herald is sounding like a ***barred word***.
"...because former President John Dramani Mahama, decided to build 200 community day SHS." You are presenting a decision as if it was practically and fully done. How many of the 200 were completed and put to use? Less than 20, so why this propaganda? What do you also mean by not much can be said about 1D1F etc? Your Mahama used 4 years to complete less than 20 of the 200 schools he promised. So why are you expecting to see all districts with factories in 2 years?