Due to the cacophonous nature of our national discourse, there is scarce opportunity to evaluate the performance of public officer, so some can get away with non-performance. In the same vein, excelling ones might be glossed over.
Two officers who have done justice to their office are ministers of Information under President Akufo-Addo, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
The two are a communication skills instructor’s dream – effective communicators who are mindful of the self, content, audience and circumstances. The most endearing quality is their demeanor, refreshingly devoid of the arrogance which characterises the conduct of a cross-section of their peers.
Effective
Effective communicators are assertive, possess integrity. When Dr Abdul-Hamid was being vetted for that position, he was quizzed for making unsavoury utterances about former President John Mahama. The former did not deny the allegation. He admitted his offence, apologised and explained that it was in response to equally seedy utterances about his then presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo. No member of the committee could counter that response.
Indeed, effective communicators are not cowards; they boldly defend their views, retract when necessary, apologise or make amends when they need to. During his tenure, Dr Abdul-Hamid communicated very well with the public. The man is admirably articulate. His geniality probably accounted for his success as a communicator during his stewardship.
Thankfully, his successor has maintained that geniality and rapport with constituents.
Both men communicate well, basically because they do not feign an accent and they avoid nauseous code-switching. Their public utterances are also devoid of overly use of fillers – e.g. you know, do you get me – which many people are not aware detract from the effectiveness of oral delivery.
Their fluency, embodied in appropriate content, demeanor and naturalness, underpins their strength as communicators which same fluency also renders them models of effective communication. My constant message to students is that the communication skills course offers life-long skills. I do not know their final grades in communication skills nor how they would have fared in my class, but as practising communicators, I score both men A.
COVID Information
Mr Oppong Nkrumah is disseminating information regarding COVID-19 in the most creditable manner. From regularly updating the public, to providing emergency call numbers, as well as advising the public on healthy and sanitation measures, he remains on top of his game.
His co-ordination of information from the various sectors to the public is commendable. His firm and authoritative handling and distribution of questions during press reviews point him out as another assertive communicator, innovative as well. He only needs support from stakeholders to enhance a healthy communicative environment.
Even in COVID-19 critical times, Ghanaian airwaves are saturated with partisan, sometimes iniquitous discussions. Worst of all, some of the so-called experts tend not be current on issues. In summary, all personalities who constitute part of the national conversation in fighting COVID-19 should be objective and accurate.
There is no room for half-truths or jaundiced opinions or inaccuracies in combating a most deadly, unrelenting adversary. Effective communication constitutes a legitimate weapon against COVID-19; we all must endeavour to complement the government’s – the Information Ministry’s – efforts.
The writer is a lecturer at the Takoradi Technical University.
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