communicator and NDC activist Japhet Festus Gbede has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akatsi South Constituency, pledging to help build a more proactive, coordinated and strategically driven communications structure for the party.
Mr Gbede made his declaration after what he described as extensive consultations with branch executives, ward coordinators, constituency executives, members of the constituency and Volta Regional communications teams, party elders and other stakeholders across the constituency.
According to him, his decision is rooted in a longstanding commitment to the NDC and a desire to contribute more meaningfully to strengthening the party’s communication machinery at the constituency level.
His latest declaration marks a return to a contest he entered in 2022, when he previously sought the same position but failed to secure the mandate of delegates.
Rather than withdrawing from party activities following that defeat, Mr Gbede said he chose to remain active and continued working with the Akatsi South Constituency Communications Team.
He said that period of continued service subsequently opened the door for him to serve on the Volta Regional Communications Team, an opportunity he regards as an important stage in his political and professional development.
He has since taken on additional responsibilities within the party, including serving as a member of the Constituency Campaign Team, while also contributing to the Communications Department and the Youth Working Committee Department in the 2024 electioneering year.
Mr Japhet Festus Gbede who is also a special aide to the Ghana Ambassador to Saudi Arabia believes those experiences have given him a broader understanding of the demands of political organisation and, particularly, the increasingly important role of communication in contemporary politics.
In his declaration, Mr Gbede who is also the Assemblymember for Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area argued that the traditional approach to political communication must evolve to reflect the changing media environment.
He noted that political conversations now extend beyond campaign platforms, radio and party meetings into social media, digital platforms and everyday community interactions.
He therefore called for a communications structure that does not merely react to issues raised by political opponents but is capable of setting the agenda and communicating the party’s message proactively.
According to him, the constituency must develop a communications system that is strategic, responsive, informed and disciplined, while ensuring that misinformation is confronted with facts and that the achievements of the party are properly documented and communicated.
“Politics is no longer fought only on campaign platforms, radio stations and political meetings; it is fought every day in the digital space, in our communities, in conversations among young people and increasingly in the minds of voters who form opinions long before election day,” he said.
‘I am not returning with bitterness’
Reflecting on his unsuccessful 2022 contest, Mr Gbede said he had deliberately chosen not to allow the outcome to create bitterness or weaken his commitment to the party.
He argued that his decision to continue working after losing the election demonstrated that his commitment to the NDC was not dependent on holding an office.
“2022 showed me what it means to lose an election; the years that followed showed me what it means to continue serving,” he stated.
He added that his subsequent responsibilities within the constituency and at the regional level had strengthened his conviction that leadership should be measured by service rather than position.
Mr Gbede’s proposed approach places particular emphasis on strengthening coordination between the constituency communications structure and the party’s branches.
He believes communicators must be better equipped to understand political issues, communicate government policies, respond to misinformation and effectively explain the party’s achievements to voters.
He also stressed the importance of documenting developmental projects and interventions, arguing that political achievements that are not properly communicated risk being lost in public memory.
He wants the constituency’s communications department to become more proactive in telling the NDC’s story while remaining credible and disciplined in its engagement with political opponents and the wider public.
“I want to contribute to building a communications department that is proactive rather than reactive, organised rather than fragmented, informed rather than impulsive, and persuasive rather than merely loud,” Mr Gbede said.
‘I bring the humility of yesterday and experience of today’
Mr Gbede said he is returning to the contest with a different perspective from the one he had in 2022.
He said the intervening years have provided him with practical experience within the constituency and regional communications structures, as well as exposure to campaign organisation and youth mobilisation.
“I bring the humility of yesterday, the experience of today and the determination to help shape the communications future of Akatsi South NDC,” he said.
He called on delegates to consider not only his declaration but also his record of service following his unsuccessful 2022 bid.
Mr Gbede concluded by expressing his readiness to work with the constituency leadership, communicators, branch structures, campaign team and other stakeholders to strengthen the NDC’s communications machinery.
