By Ishmael Junourgh 
Seasoned party communicator seeks delegates’ mandate to lead constituency communications with experience, accessibility and a stronger media presence
After eight years of service as Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Wa Central Constituency, Kotia Nurideen Abubakar Bitis says the time has come to move from supporting the communications leadership to taking the helm.
Bitis, who is contesting for the position of NDC Communications Officer in Wa Central, is presenting his candidature as a continuation of years of grassroots service, party loyalty and media engagement rather than a fresh entry into constituency politics.
His message to delegates is anchored on a simple proposition: he has served, gained the experience and now wants the opportunity to lead.
“I have served as Deputy Communications Officer for two terms, and I believe it is time to step up,” Bitis said in an interview.
The aspirant has served the NDC in various capacities, including as a branch executive, TEIN president, communication team member and Deputy Communications Officer. He believes these roles have given him a comprehensive understanding of both grassroots mobilisation and political communication.
For Bitis, that experience is now the foundation of his campaign to become the constituency’s principal communications voice.
Turning Experience into Visibility
A major pillar of Bitis’ case is his experience in audiovisual communication and his longstanding engagement with the media.
He explained that his work has helped create visibility for the activities of the NDC, President John Dramani Mahama and the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, particularly by using audiovisual platforms to bring the party’s work closer to the public.
According to him, his media network has also positioned him as a go-to source for information about developments in the Upper West Region.
“When they want news from our region, they call me. And I am always available to give them news. And I give them the truth about what is happening,” he said.
That relationship with the media, he believes, gives him an advantage in an increasingly competitive political environment where effective communication can determine how party programmes, policies and achievements are perceived by the electorate.
For Bitis, becoming Communications Officer would therefore be an opportunity to build on what he has already been doing and give Wa Central NDC a more visible and coordinated public voice.
A Communicator Close to the Grassroots
Beyond the media, Bitis is also seeking to define his candidature around accessibility.
He spoke passionately about his relationship with young people and students, describing himself as someone who remains available to those who need his support and guidance.
“The school children will tell you that I am always there for them. Some will tell you I am their brother, some will say I am their father,” he said.
That grassroots connection, he suggested, is central to the kind of communications leadership he hopes to provide—one that does not operate solely from party offices but remains connected to ordinary members, young people, women, elders and community leaders.
‘Party First’
Bitis repeatedly returned to the principle of putting the NDC ahead of individual interests.
He urged party members to view the constituency election as an opportunity to strengthen the party rather than deepen internal divisions.
“You may not like me, you may dislike me, but you will agree with me that I have served the party well,” he said.
He also recalled his involvement in previous electoral campaigns, including working with the Member of Parliament and other party actors to secure victory for the NDC.
For him, those experiences demonstrate the importance of teamwork, discipline and coordinated communication in building and sustaining electoral victories.
“We have worked for long. We have served our people,” he said.
From Deputy to Leader
Bitis describes his bid as a natural progression after two terms as Deputy Communications Officer.
He argues that eight years in the position have allowed him to understand the constituency’s political environment, communication structures and the expectations of party members.
His ambition, therefore, is not simply to occupy a new position, but to translate accumulated experience into stronger leadership.
“I think that I need to be promoted, so that I can work and lead,” he stated.
If elected, he says he will work with the constituency’s youth, women, elders, leaders and grassroots activists to strengthen the NDC’s organisational and communications structures.
Projecting Wa Central
At the heart of Bitis’ campaign is also a promise to project Wa Central more effectively.
He wants the constituency’s activities, achievements and people to receive greater visibility, while ensuring that the work of the Member of Parliament and the NDC government is effectively communicated to constituents and the wider public.
He pledged to remain accessible and to ensure that his commitments to the party and constituents translate into action.
“I am assuring you that I won’t deceive you. I will make sure that all my promises are fulfilled, and the good people of Wa Central will be projected to the next level,” he said.
Ambition Beyond the Constituency
Asked whether his political journey could eventually take him to a national communications role, Bitis acknowledged the possibility while stressing the importance of political progression.
His immediate ambition, however, is firmly rooted in Wa Central.
He sees the constituency communications position as the next stage in a political journey built through years of grassroots participation, media engagement and party service.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the NDC’s parliamentary leadership in Wa Central and the broader national agenda of the party.
For Bitis, the coming constituency election is therefore more than a contest for an internal party position. It is an opportunity, in his view, for delegates to choose between continuity without change and experienced leadership with a renewed communications vision.
His pitch to Wa Central delegates is ultimately straightforward: after eight years of serving from the deputy position, he believes he has earned the opportunity to become the voice leading the constituency’s communications. And with the campaign now taking shape, Bitis is asking delegates to trust not only his words, but the record of service behind them.
Pascal Gyireh