Emmanuel Kwao Arku, a former TEIN executive at KAAF University and National Public Relations Officer of the National Union of Tricycle Operators of Ghana (NUTOG), has pledged to pursue a youth-focused and inclusive communication strategy if elected Deputy Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
Mr Arku says his decision to contest the position is driven by a desire to strengthen communication between the party’s leadership and its grassroots, particularly young people who, he argues, remain central to the NDC’s future.
According to him, the youth have a strong stake in the future of the country, their families and the next generation, making their meaningful participation in the affairs of the party essential.
He cited his previous experience as TEIN Communication Officer at KAAF University as evidence of his commitment to youth empowerment, saying he successfully advocated scholarships for students while using his position to amplify the concerns of young party members.
He said his hard work and commitment to party activities subsequently earned him opportunities to take on higher responsibilities, which he believes have equipped him with the experience needed to serve at the constituency level.
Mr Arku said he intends to bring the same approach to the Deputy Communication Officer position by making the welfare and concerns of the grassroots an important part of his communication agenda.
He also pointed to his experience in media engagement, recalling that he sometimes skipped lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays to appear on radio and television programmes to promote the NDC’s message and explain the party’s policies and programmes.
According to him, the experience demonstrated his commitment to the party and his willingness to sacrifice personal convenience to advance its communication objectives.
As National Public Relations Officer of the National Union of Tricycle Operators of Ghana (NUTOG), he said he also advocated the legalisation of commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as okada, as a possible livelihood avenue for young people.
Mr Arku said that, if elected, he would establish a common digital and physical communication platform through which branch and zonal executives could receive verified party information in real time.
He further proposed skills-training initiatives and greater use of government entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, including Adwumawura and programmes under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), as part of efforts to create opportunities for the youth.
He said the Deputy Communication Officer has an important role to play beyond issuing statements, stressing that the position requires effective coordination of communication activities, crisis management and the promotion of the party’s image and programmes.
Mr Arku said the office must also help communicate and properly present government projects and policies to the grassroots and the wider public, while ensuring that party members understand the work being done by the government.
He identified coordination as another key responsibility, saying the Deputy Communication Officer must help manage communication between the constituency leadership, branch and zonal structures, communicators and other stakeholders.
He added that effective communication also involves managing information flowing both within and outside the party, ensuring that accurate and timely information reaches the appropriate audience while responding appropriately to emerging issues.
On crisis management, Mr Arku said the communication structure must be prepared to respond quickly and responsibly to misinformation, controversies and issues capable of affecting the party’s image.
On the party’s past electoral performance, Mr Arku attributed the NDC’s defeat in the 2016 general election partly to what he described as communication gaps. He said addressing such gaps would be critical to strengthening the party’s communication machinery.
He stressed that his decision to contest the deputy position should not be interpreted as an indication that he lacks the capacity to serve in a substantive communication role. Rather, he described the deputy position as an opportunity to further develop his experience in coordinating party communications, managing crises and working closely with the party’s communication structures.
Mr Arku appealed to delegates to support candidates who, in his view, would prioritise the long-term interests of the NDC and work to strengthen unity and effective communication across the party.
Having successfully completed the vetting process and selected the number two position on the ballot, Emmanuel Kwao Arku says he is ready to bring his grassroots experience, media exposure and youth-focused agenda to the NDC’s communication structure in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
