Communicating Kotoko: Ahenkorah's huge task

Kwaku Ahenkorah - Kotoko Communications Manager.

It was only a matter of time. His appointment letter had been sent to the Board of Directors. The only thing left was the Board’s approval. That approval or confirmation came last week. Kwaku Ahenkorah is Kotoko's new Communications Manager.
 
I don't remember the exact date on which I met Kwaku Ahenkorah for the first time. It must have been at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium somewhere in 2008. I had then heard of him as a likable, fine journalist in Kumasi. Pleasant and affable was the view I formed of him after our first, brief interaction or meeting in Kumasi. That view is still intact.

After working and interacting with Kwaku Ahenkorah over the last one month, my opinion of my elder brother has been finer because we only get to know people well when we get closer. Kwaku Ahenkorah has an excellent professional attitude. I’m not saying this because Kwaku is in to work for Kotoko. That’s the truth, nothing but the whole truth. If it was anything different, I would have mustered the courage to say it.  

Kwaku is passionate about his profession. He goes about it in the best possible way, dealing tactfully and professionally with practically anybody who comes his way. Such is the kind of personality Kotoko needs because it’s not easy doing anything for Kotoko especially at the management level.

If Kwaku Ahenkorah didn’t know that any job you are assigned to do at Kotoko requires sacrifice, I’m sure he knows that by now. All things considered, doing anything for Kotoko demands great sacrifice. I’m not a management member but from close observation, I have seen past and present Kotoko management members experiencing difficulties they probably wouldn’t encounter or go through but for their association with Kotoko.

I won’t be able to share examples of those difficulties for lack of space and time. I, however, will encourage Kwaku Ahenkorah to be ready for more sacrifice. Kwaku Ahenkorah, in my view has that sacrificial spirit. I know of how he was from his own pocket, buying A4 sheets to print team sheets for journalists at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, for instance, when he was the Media Officer at the national stadium.

Aside sacrifice, our Communications Manager must try to satisfy all Kotoko interests – particularly that of Kotoko Express and the website, www.asantekotokosc.com. These are issues I have already discussed with him so the impression shouldn’t be that, I could have privately discussed these with him.

The point about Kotoko’s media outlets is very important. Kotoko Express and Asantekotoksoc.com thrive on information, not just information but Kotoko information.

As a result, it’s imperative that, our media outlets – owned and administered by dedicated professionals are fed regularly with accurate, timely and exclusive information.

It’s undeniable that, not every Kotoko news or information will be published by Kotoko Express and Asantekotokosc.com. In this era where there are FM or radio stations everywhere and their sports presenters always eager to be the first to break the news, only a novice will argue that FM or radio stations shouldn’t be given Kotoko news or information.

Even if one does that, radio sports presenters would surely find means of getting what one doesn’t want to share with them. Radio has extensive reach or coverage besides being the easiest means of disseminating information nowadays. Kwaku Ahenkorah would thus (and legitimately so) want to serve radio interests.

In so doing, Kwaku Ahenkorah must ensure a careful balance between which news FM or radio stations receive from Kotoko and which ones Kotoko Express and Asantekotokosc.com handle. I’m making this point not for any reason but the simple fact that, in the past, Kotoko Express for example has had to struggle for exclusive news on the club. That shouldn’t happen now.

Elsewhere, media outlets of football clubs have exclusive rights to certain information. It shouldn’t be difficult for us to do the same thing at Kotoko. I end this piece with an applause for Kwaku Ahenkorah as in his acting capacity, he worked to expectation. He can only build on the good work he has started now that he has been confirmed. Welcome and good luck, Kwaku!