A couple of days ago the spokesperson of the vice president of the republic of Ghana one Abdulai John Jinapor made statements against a widely respected lawyer, gender activist, and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Miss Ursla Owusu during a programme on Metro television in Ghana to the effect that, Miss Owusu had built a house through prostitution.
It must be explained that, Jinapor did not directly call Ursla a prostitute. He did that indirectly but who he was referring to was very obvious and incontrovertible.
Many people it must be said were hugely embarrassed that, a spokesperson of the vice president of Ghana, could sit on a Television and make such truculent, unwarranted, unripe, and highly irresponsible statement about a co-panelist who was only making a statement on fact on the programme.
Ursla Owusu had made a remark during the cause of the discussion to the effect that, some politicians out of the blue had started putting up houses and mansions just six months into the administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
It must be explained that, what Ursla said on the programme was already published in sections of the media several months earlier. She was only restating what was already public knowledge.
For instance the media had published that, Ama Benyiwa Doe a Regional Minister was putting up a storey building just months into taking office as Minister. The president of Ghana John Evans Mills was also alleged to be putting up a mansion in his home town. The spokesperson of the vice president was also alleged to have put up house just months after he was appointment as spokesperson for the vice president of Ghana.
The curious thing about all these media publication was the timing of the alleged buildings- only when those persons took up their various positions.
If I were John on that programme I would have tried to counter what Ursla said about building of mansions and houses in six months into office by officials of the NDC by also citing members of the NPP who probably had also put up mansions and houses during the tenure of the NPP.
The fact that, John veered off the “road” to talk about prostitution was just but a clear example of how bankrupt he was with facts to debate Ursla and rather resorted to communist tactics; the reason he must be condemned in all directions by all who value decent political discussions in the media.
Some things must be made very clear; John on his own does not matter at all! He is not a Minister, nor a District Chief Executive. The only reason the media talks or listen to him is because he speaks for the vice president of the republic of Ghana. That is all!
In news management, marketing or political communications any spokesperson mirrors the thoughts and views of his or her boss. So what ever John says any where; it represents the thoughts and position of his boss who is the vice president of the republic of Ghana.
For example if a chief is de-skinned at Yapei or Bupei in the Northern region by the Yegbon-wura and it is leading to tension and Jinapor expresses regret over the issue he is only mirroring the position of the vice president.
If vandals at the Common wealth Hall of the University of Ghana goes on a rampage over plans of the authorities of the University to convert the hall into a mixed graduate residence and Jinapor talks to the media and say that, the vice president would be meeting the Vandals at the castle; he is talking for the vice president.
If John goes to a radio or TV station and refers to co-panelists as a prostitute he is mirroring the thoughts and positions of his boss- the vice president of the republic of Ghana period! This is especially so when calls to the vice president to either disassociate himself from the unfortunate comments of his spokesperson or reprimand him falls on deaf ears.
The logic therefore from the scenario given above is that, it was the vice president John Dramani Mahama who called Ursla a prostitute by proxy through Jinapor who officially speaks for him.
Most people who use to admire the vice president a lot says their admiration for him was vanishing in view of what they said is his unwillingness to reprimand his spokesperson who goofed by the prostitution comment on TV.
Admirers of Ursla Owusu are urging her not to be dispirited with the prostitution comments against her. Saying that, if prostitution according to the office of the vice president of the republic of Ghana means being competent and building her own house then she should welcome it.

I did like to advice Jinapor that, speaking for the vice president or any other person demands civility in communication since the voice of a spokesperson is the voice of the master. I hope you will be happy to take this advice Jinapor.

AKILU SAYIBU, UK
Akilu.sayibu@live.uwe.ac.uk