Ghana Must Amplify Its Message Beyond Accra, Expert Warns

Director of the African Centre for Security and Counterterrorism, Emmanuel Kotin, on November 19, 2025, has issued a sharp critique of the ruling party’s communication strategy, warning that their failure to engage rural communities could cost them in the next election.

Speaking on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) today, Mr. Kotin praised the Finance Minister and his team for their performance, saying they are doing a “fantastic job.” Yet, he lamented that the gains they have achieved are not being communicated effectively to the wider Ghanaian public.

“If you don’t communicate your gains, you’re doing nothing,” Mr. Kotin argued, stressing that communicating progress is as important as making the progress itself.

He took particular issue with what he described as the party’s overreliance on private media outlets based in Accra. “He keeps running to private media houses as if Ghana is only Accra,” Kotin said, referring to the Finance Minister. “What about those who rely solely on GBC?”

His comments highlight a significant blind spot in the government’s outreach: rural communities, many of whom tune in primarily to state-owned media like GBC and may not have the same access to private media as their urban counterparts.

Mr. Kotin warned that if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) does not address this communication gap, they risk alienating a crucial portion of the electorate. “The rural communities should not be sidelined,” he said. “If the NDC does not take this seriously, this might cost them their power in their next election.”

The remarks come at a critical time, as the government continues to push major economic reforms and seeks to shore up public support ahead of the 2026 elections. While the Finance Ministry has released several updates and policy statements in recent months, Kotin’s intervention raises important questions about how those messages are being disseminated, and who they are reaching.

Analysts say that bridging this communication divide is not just about political survival; it could also help ensure that development benefits are understood and felt more broadly across Ghana’s regions.

As Ghana’s political and economic future unfolds, voices like that of Mr. Kotin remind leaders that visibility isn’t just about making progress, it’s about making sure everyone knows about it.