NPP-PROs blocking Pro-NDC media outlets

There is growing concern over what seems like a deliberate effort to undermine the government’s communication by public relations officers (PROs) appointed under the New Patriotic Party (NPP). These officials, despite the shift in power, are reportedly preventing pro-NDC media outlets from accessing crucial information and events, thereby manipulating the flow of government communication to favor the opposition.

A recent example unfolded at the Ministry of Finance during a press conference announcing Ghana’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Official Creditor Committee (OCC) as part of the country’s debt restructuring efforts. Pro-NDC media, particularly newspapers, were deliberately excluded from the event, while pro-NPP media outlets were given full access. A PRO at the Ministry, still in place from the previous administration, allegedly told pro-NDC journalists they were not invited and questioned their presence.

This practice of restricting access to pro-NDC media is not isolated to the Ministry of Finance. Similar incidents are occurring across various government institutions, including Ghana Cocobod. Just yesterday, pro-NDC journalists attempting to cover an event at Cocobod were blocked, further proving that NPP-affiliated PROs are actively working to frustrate the NDC government’s communication efforts.

During the NPP administration, pro-NDC media were systematically excluded from government events and information, and now these same officials are continuing to restrict access in an effort to hinder the current government’s ability to communicate policies, achievements, and national issues.

Political analysts caution that if these PROs remain in their posts, they will continue to manipulate government messaging, distort narratives, and weaken the NDC administration’s credibility. By controlling information access, they prevent ministers and officials from engaging with media outlets that would offer more balanced coverage.

There is growing pressure for ministers and appointees to restructure public relations teams across all government bodies, including Cocobod, to ensure that opposition-aligned officials no longer use their positions to undermine the government’s communication strategy. If these NPP-aligned PROs are not removed, they could severely limit the NDC government’s ability to inform the public, shape perception, and govern effectively.