Political Marketing Analyst, Professor Kobby Mensah, has observed that the approach adopted by the two leading presidential candidates of incorporating professionals from various sectors into their manifesto drafting process is a strategic move, as these professionals bring a wealth of expertise and valuable insights, both as professionals and members of society, to the table.
Professor Mensah noted that professionals wield significant influence, not only in their respective fields but also in their social and familial circles, where they are often sought out for their expert opinions on electoral and policy matters, making their endorsements and opinions highly valued and impactful.
“And so they have quite a lot of insight to give the political parties. Over the years, focus groups have been quite important to political parties in the framing and development of their policies, messaging, etc. This particular move, which is not the first, is a process that political parties go through. Political parties quite a lot of time have actually used professionals to do that”.
Professor Kobby Mensah
Moreover, Professor Mensah praised the strategy as a savvy approach that allows political parties to tap into the pulse of the people, enabling them to better understand the concerns, needs, and aspirations of the electorate, and thereby craft policies and manifestos that resonate with the citizenry.
According to Kobby Mensah, the media’s engagement with the public provides valuable insights, making it a rich source of information.
He commended the running mate of the NDC, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, for her decision to engage with the media, describing it as a wise move that allows her to tap into the media’s wealth of knowledge and gauge the pulse of the public.
Kobby Mensah noted that he anticipates that the manifestos of both the NPP and NDC will be a culmination of the insights and expertise garnered from their extensive engagements with various professionals.
He indicated that the manifestoes must reflect a thoughtful and informed approach to governance that addresses the concerns and needs of the nation.
“There is one thing engaging people and there is another making sure that these views are actually reflected in the documents”. – Professor Kobby Mensah
Turning Expertise Into Actionable Policies
Furthermore, Professor Kobby Mensah emphasized that both parties must be prepared to translate the expert-informed policies into tangible actions and implement them diligently if they assume power after the elections, ensuring that the valuable insights shared by professionals are not mere rhetoric but yield meaningful impact.
“And so you have a three-stage approach if you like; the idea that you are listening to them, the idea that after you have listened to them you’ll incorporate it into the document, and the idea that you will implement. So you wouldn’t have to meet them for PR purposes and then of course you do not actually factor that into your operations”.
Professor Kobby Mensah
Professor Mensah stressed that it would be a grave mistake for any political party to ignore the valuable insights and expertise shared by professionals during the campaign season, failing to integrate them into their policy decisions and governance approach once in power, which would render the engagement exercise futile and detrimental to the nation’s progress.
Kobby Mensah reaffirmed that this strategy is a laudable approach and advocated for its frequent adoption to ensure that the government remains attuned to the genuine concerns and needs of the citizenry, fostering a responsive and accountable governance that truly serves the people’s interests.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the NPP and NDC have been actively engaging with diverse professional groups, seeking to meaningfully incorporate the concerns, expertise, and perspectives of these stakeholders into their policy frameworks and manifestos, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of the people are effectively captured and addressed.
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