MRS. JEAN A. MENSAH MUST HEAR THIS

 

MRS. JEAN A. MENSAH MUST HEAR THIS

I think you have done well up to this point. You are about reaching the finishing line.

I have, however, made some observations and I feel like sharing with you to aid you round up in grand style and to guide your approach to these kind of exercises, going forward.

I. THE 24 HOUR DECLARATION PROMISE:

The rule of thumb is that in managing people's expectations, particularly during exercises such as these elections, you UNDER-PROMISE and aim at OVER-DELIVERING.

When you came out with the promise to complete the rigorous collation and verification work and declare the result within 24 hours after the end of polls, I was sceptical.

I told myself you were grossly underestimating the work at hand and making no room for eventualities that were sure to be recorded, anyway.

Several hours after failing to meet your self-imposed deadline, you came citing rains, delay in the transmission of results from the some constituencies and the extension of polls in other areas as the reasons for the delay. You ended up boxing yourself into such a tight corner. Going forward, please learn to under-promise and over deliver.

ii. SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF

You spoke off the cuff during your midnight address to the media yesterday during which you listed those inexcusable excuses for the delay in meeting the declaration deadline.

Speaking extemporaneously in an overly charged situation like this is perilous. It creates an unnecessary room for mispronunciation.

Yesterday, you sounded repetitious and made some of us feel jittery because we were dreading a slip. You see, sometimes when you speak off the cuff heh, the understanding can vary from the intended meaning in a way that will surprise you and this is not a good time for such an adventure because any mispronunciation or slip could have rippling effects that will be difficult to manage. That is more the reason (why) you don't even take that needless risk in the first place.

The next time you return to our screens with an address or the ultimate declaration, please stick to a script with carefully measured and thoroughly considered words, no time for excesses; go straight to the points.

"Brevity, they say, is the soul of wit', in other words, being brief is the essence of intelligence.

Be guided accordingly, Madam chair.

NB: First published on Wednesday 9th December 2020