The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been accused of plagiarising a video which has been viral on social media to unveil the ‘HOPE’ campaign.
The two minutes ‘Hope Campaign’ video shows a man walking through a community highlighting problems of Ghanaian society, in terms of education, power crisis, dwindling economy and the call for a new leadership.
The extracts of the video are as follows: “H is hope, is compete of ideas, being involved and vision, make a decision and vote. H is hope. H.O.P.E., vote for a leader who is honest, [the] one who’ll not lie to us, deceive us or twist the truth or even steal from us. Leaders must be credible and accountable.
“True leaders will manage the economy well so jobs are created. We want to work. People we vote for must help create jobs. She also deserves to prosper. Vote a leader who has the prosperity of Ghanaians at heart. The one who can lower taxes, stabilise our currency, reduce interest rate so her business can grow and she can afford all these bills.
“E is education. We have to give our votes to the one who offer quality education so, my future is guaranteed and mom’s future is secured as well. These are thousands of hope champions who are keeping the dream alive. Don’t be left out. Get involved. So, we have hope for a leader who is selfless, incorruptible and believes in Ghana.”
However, days after the ‘Hope Campaign’ video went viral on social media, a modified version of it started circulating, trying to promote the projects initiated by President John Mahama.
According to the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, is a clear case of bootlegging the advert of the group and that is why the NPP is reluctant to unveil its manifesto at the risk of being copied.
He said the campaign was started by young businesses and that “I’m surprised that the NDC believes that hope should be bequeathed to hopelessness.”
“I’m totally shocked,” he stated in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, adding that the NDC has “no shame when it comes to plagiarising. They have plagiarised to the extent of plagiarising something put together by young professionals.”
Mr. Awuku continued, “and it is clear, that is why the NPP has not released its manifesto as well. These guys, they are bent on plagiarising everything and anything they come across.”
But, the deputy Communications Director of the NDC, Fred Agbenyo said the accusations are laughable.
He added that the claim of plagiarism against the NDC is a joke and “I don’t know where it’s coming from [and] NPP thinking that everybody is stealing something from them. Somebody is plagiarising whatever that they claim they have brought. I don’t know where this is coming from.”
He said the said altered video could not have been sanctioned by the NDC.
He said people are just being innovative, thinking through something and putting it out the social media “so, if somebody or a whole political party comes out to say that because they have done something and somebody has come up [with] a similar idea, it means that NDC as a political party has stolen their ideas, I don’t get it.”
“In any case, have they patented any of those things they say they have done, that anybody has gone to steal from them? Are they not just common ideas anybody can use?” he asked.
He said the fact that a group took the lead in that initiative does not mean they are the originators of it.
-Starrfmonline