National Tymes News Desk
ASPIRING Deputy National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Sika Nartey, has picked his nomination forms to contest the position, promising firm, smart and responsible communication that will strengthen the party and reconnect its leadership with the grassroots.
Speaking in an interview with Nationaltymes.com after picking his forms, Sika Nartey said his commitment to defending and promoting the NDC dates back to his university days in 2007.
He described himself as a dedicated defender of the party and said the NDC needed bold, intelligent and disciplined communicators to protect its achievements, respond effectively to political attacks and secure victory in the 2028 general elections.
According to him, the party must build a strong communication team capable of explaining government policies to the public while defending the NDC against what he described as opposition propaganda.
SUCCESSION AND PARTY SURVIVAL:
Sika Nartey stressed the need for proper succession planning and strong leadership to sustain the NDC, which was established in 1992.
Drawing lessons from the decline of historical empires and political organisations, including the Convention People’s Party (CPP), he said internal divisions, weak organisation and a lack of effective leadership could threaten the survival of any political movement.
He maintained that the NDC needed courageous and intelligent communicators who could defend the party without fear while remaining disciplined in their public engagements.
“We shouldn’t be intimidated. Great empires can never be maintained through timidity. We need tough people, smart people and brave people to continue the existence of such empires,” he said.
THREE-POINT AGENDA:
Outlining his vision for the position, Sika Nartey presented a three-point agenda focused on rapid response communication, women’s empowerment and responsible engagement with the party’s grassroots.
On communication, he said he would work with the party’s national leadership to establish a rapid response team to monitor public discussions, address misinformation and respond promptly to claims made by political opponents.
He cited criticisms of the government’s expressway projects as an example of issues he believed required effective communication to help Ghanaians understand the purpose and benefits of government policies.
Sika Nartey said the proposed team would ensure that the party’s position on important national issues was communicated clearly and promptly, particularly at the grassroots level.
“The propaganda of the NPP throughout the nation will be a thing of the past. We will elucidate and educate Ghanaians on the relevance of government policies,” he stated.
On women’s empowerment, Sikar said he had been working with Dr Hanna Bissu and members of the party’s women’s wing to promote the interests of women.
He pledged to work closely with women organisers to improve their welfare, amplify their voices and support initiatives that would help women become economically independent.
He said an NDC-led approach to women’s empowerment should focus on practical support, including access to soft loans for trading, educational assistance and opportunities for women to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to society.
Making a comparison with what he described as the approach of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sikar referred to former Awutu Senya East MP Hawa Koomson and the issue of pepper spray for women.
“We in the NDC will not give our women pepper spray. We will give them soft loans to trade, take care of their education and empower them to become models in society,” he stressed.
GRASSROOTS FIRST, RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION:
Sikar also expressed concern about what he described as the poor treatment of some grassroots members, arguing that party leaders must not lose touch with the people who work hard to keep the NDC strong.
He pledged to become a voice for ordinary party members and ensure that their concerns reached the appropriate leadership.
Describing his proposed leadership style as a blend of the “street and bow tie”, he said he would combine intellectual and professional communication with direct engagement with party members and ordinary Ghanaians.
He emphasised that freedom of speech must go hand in hand with responsibility, warning against the use of political communication to insult women, traditional rulers, party elders and other members of society.
“Words hurt, words kill and words also heal. We abhor disrespect. Free speech must not be a yardstick for insult,” he said.
Sika Nartey cited the role of hate speech in the 1994 Rwandan genocide as a warning about the dangers of irresponsible public communication.
He said political communicators must be mindful of the impact of their words and use their platforms to promote understanding rather than hostility.
He further pledged to engage the NDC’s Majority Caucus in Parliament on ways to address defamation and the spread of false information through lawful means, stressing that freedom of expression should not be used as an excuse to break the law.
Looking ahead to the 2028 general elections, Sika Nartey said the NDC needed communicators who could defend the party’s record, explain its policies and engage the public with confidence, intelligence and discipline.
He said his ambition was to help the party build on its 2024 electoral gains and strengthen its support across the country.
Joshua Sika Nartey expressed confidence in his ability to contribute meaningfully to the party’s communication efforts, declaring that he was ready to bring energy, commitment and a strong grassroots connection to the position.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
