Veteran Communications Lecturer and Journalist, Prof. Kwame Karikari knows it when he says the Ghanaian politician finds the microphone too attractive, in fact, so attractive that most do not know when to turn down an invitation to go on live radio interviews.

Even straight from bed, they will respond to the call on their phone to join an interview, whether they are seized with the facts about the subject or not. Like a fanatic, they will go to war with their guns whether loaded or not. And then, they end up casting a poor image of themselves.

The Minister of Education’s spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, who also speaks for the Education Ministry, last Friday, lent credence to Prof Karikari’s position.

It was supposed to be a simple question of what has informed the Ministry of Education’s choice of 'blue and white' as the colours for new uniforms and buildings proposed for basic schools in Ghana.

The rebranding effort, according to Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, is already underway.

Kwasi Kwarteng had therefore been raised on the phone on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show to shed light on the rebranding efforts.

He sought to situate the conversation in “its proper context”, and indicated that the Minister had spoken at a symposium on the ‘Free SHS story’ but also took advantage of the opportunity to highlight interventions to raise the quality and value of basic school education in Ghana.

Then he got stung by the question of what went into settling on 'white and blue', rapidly sliding onto a mind-boggling tangent to suggest that the interview question was informed by ‘hushed conspiracy theories’ when the wisest thing to do, when you don’t know the answers (or even if you know but do not wish to speak about them), is to postpone your answer under the guise of seeking proper briefing.

For whatever it is worth, here is a verbatim transcription of the interaction. Perhaps political communicators will be reminded that citizens do not expect them to know all the answers and that admitting same, has never constituted a crime.

Here we go with the interview

Kojo Yankson: We are asking, where did this plan come from, to change the school uniforms and repaint the basic schools?

Kwasi Kwarteng: OK. So, I want to situate the Minister's comments in the perspective that it was made, so that we'll be able to appreciate the angle that he was coming from. I am also mindful not to blame anyone for how this whole story was reported. But I mean, come to think of it, the Minister for Education last Tuesday, was speaking at a symposium dubbed, “The free SHS story”,  and it was an opportunity for stakeholders to meet and interact and share their experiences on the impact of the Free Senior High School programme. The minister was also scheduled to speak at the event and it was an opportunity for him to also outline the interventions and of course, initiatives that he employed or the ministry has employed to be able to make sure that they run the Free SHS programme up to the stage that it is. And so, after having made the presentation largely on the Free SHS policy, he took an opportunity to also, I mean, take a bite on basic school education, and when I refer to basic schools I'm referring to from Class One or KG up to the junior high school level. And the Minister even admitted that currently and of course, even from time immemorial, it has been the weakest link within our education landscape, and the fact that it needs an aggressive ‘rehauling’, rebranding, to make sure that we restore public confidence in public basic schools. So I recall the minister even making the point that the average Ghanaian does not want to associate his or her child to any public basic school, and the general lack of confidence in public basic schools and the responsibility on leadership to take a deliberate step, very aggressive one to make sure that we facelift or we take steps to make sure that I mean, we facelift the public basic schools.

So he outlined, of course, in terms of our interventions in the areas of access, what GALOP (Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project) and … have been doing, he spoke about infrastructure development, outlined model Junior High Schools with the state of laboratories in it, the modern state of laboratories in it, and what have you. And of course, he spoke about the fact that even after all these interventions, we also critically have to look at the perception that people place on the whole uniform that the public basic schools use.

So it was at that point where he made the point that after all these interventions, we may be looking at changing the uniforms of public basic schools, so that the confidence and the trust and the value that people will place on the new uniform will commensurate with the interventions that have been also made. I mean, so it was not as though the minister made, I mean, a deliberate unveiling of steps to introduce new uniforms, but I mean, he was talking about deepening quality, deepening access, rebranding the whole public basic schools, which happens to be the weakest link in the education sector, so that we will restore public confidence. I mean, if you recall, he even made a point that he is looking at a time, as a minister, where the average Ghanaian irrespective of the class or social class that somebody belongs to, will queue up just to register his or her daughter or son in the in the public basic schools. So I think the context is very important. The context is not as though the Ministry has introduced I mean new uniforms in schools, but he was talking about a whole aggressive intervention or steps to be able to revolutionise and rebrand public basic schools which happens to be the weakest link within our education sector. I mean, it just happens that the reports were only centred on the uniforms and reported as though the Ministry has unveiled, and some even have said, has introduced new school uniforms, but I mean, it’s a futuristic plan as part of the rebranding.

Kojo Yankson: So to clarify, is there a policy at the Ministry of Education to introduce new uniforms at some point?

Kwasi Kwarteng: So I wouldn't call it a policy, but I will say, I mean, there is an initiative or we are looking at as part of the total rebranding of the public basic schools to also introduce uniforms but I mean, that is not something that has happened now but I mean, it's a futuristic proposal, if you ask me.

Kojo Yankson: Is it something that has been, you know, sat down on by the appropriate teams and committees and approved for execution?

Kwasi Kwarteng: I mean, per the extension of the logic of your question, then, that will also mean that even if you want to remove schools under the trees you may have to set up committees for approval and what have you, you see...

Kojo Yankson: No, let's stick to the topic. We're talking about uniforms, right now. When we finish we’ll talk about painting, but while we're talking about uniforms, my question is, has this gone through a process of approval, so that it is now on your to-do list as a Ministry, officially, that you will be changing the uniforms of Ghanaian basic school pupils?

Kwasi Kwarteng: So, unless maybe you want me to say your question may be a simplistic one, because that's not how things work at the Ministry. If you're a policy implementer and you are charged with the responsibility of strengthening basic schools, I do not see how if you want to, for instance if you want to introduce a curriculum, you will need a certain approval for certain committees before you print textbooks, same as uniforms. Unless of course you are asking that, has it gotten maybe cabinet approval. Maybe if that was framed in that light, then maybe I should be able to provide an answer aligned with how you want me to answer it. But generally, generally, like I said, we have not introduced school uniforms as I speak to you but I'm saying that, like I indicated, as efforts or plans to restore public confidence and make sure that we place higher value at the basic school level, and of course, as part of our aggressive intervention to revolutionalise our basic schools, in the areas of access, quality, to make sure that it really has an impact on our socio-economic transformation, largely, we are considering that but it is, I mean, a matter of policy where you need approval because I mean, ministries usually take the approval when it comes to largely policy decisions from cabinet, but it is not. I don't think this falls within that category, unless of course I get a superior briefing to this effect.

Kojo Yankson: I see. Well, let me explain why I'm asking you my simplistic question. How much will this cost and who will pay for it?

Kwasi Kwarteng: So you see, it's not even a conversation where we've gotten there. Like I indicated, the context is always very important. And I gave a very, I mean, short history about the context within which the minister made this comment, where he was even showing pictures and videos of these new classrooms, and I remember there was even one where, in Bosomtwi when he went there, the school apparently met him in some black trousers, white top, just like the lawyers dress and a tie, neatly tied. And he said, as soon as he showed that presentation, there was a general applause from the audience, and he said so we should even be looking at restoring confidence by changing these uniforms that you parents do not even like and don’t want to associate with it. So it is not as though it is a policy that has been introduced. But the context should give you an understanding of how I mean this comment was made. I mean, I genuinely did not believe it would have been a matter, I mean, within the media discussions, because the whole event was largely on the free SHS story, but, of course, in an attempt to also address the interventions at the basic schools and even admit that it’s the weakest link which needs an overhaul and rebranding, I mean, this comment was made. I don't want to say it was misunderstood or misrepresented, but maybe from our side of the Ministry, like you offered us the opportunity to explain, we need to do more of the explanation.

Kojo Yankson: Okay. Well, let's hear what the Minister actually said so that our audience can make up their minds of what he meant. Let's hear him.

[Audio of Education Minister plays]

‘But I know there are some who are watching from home and around the world and they are saying, what about basic schools? Have you abandoned them? So they will say, yeah, yeah, we'll give you credit, you’ve done well with senior high school, but you have abandoned basic schools, children are sitting under trees, and you’re talking about drones. To them, I have a response. I look forward to a day when parents will line up in front of our public schools and beg to enroll their children. That is the day, and it will soon come, and it has begun, under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Let me move. This is your junior high school. I hear all the time people talking about the free senior high school and they don't tell the story of the children who were here. You have to look at something negative and focus on that. They are not focusing on the story of the children. This is a programme that has touched many lives. You see you don't see brown and yellow. We are rebranding public schools, no brown and yellow, blue and white, and we are changing the uniforms too. (applause) This is President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s Ghana, we have begun the transformation. There's no reason why we shouldn’t. Ghanaians deserve better and we’re going to give them better, something that we can all be proud of.’

Kojo Yankson: Right so that was the Education Minister, Dr. Adu Twum. So Mr. Kwarteng, I think we heard him quite clearly. He said we are rebranding the schools and we are changing the uniforms, right?

Kwasi Kwarteng: I think we are at the same page or the same level because I happened to be at the programme, I was there, and like I indicated, he made a point about the fact that he's really looking forward to a day where parents will queue and beg for admissions at the public basic schools just like we do at the private schools. And of course he also made a point about rebranding the basic schools like you rightly said, and even spoke about we are changing the uniform.

Kojo Yankson: Yeah, so that was an announcement by the Minister. It wasn't some suggestion of some possible future idea. It was an announcement. He said we are rebranding the schools. We are going to change them from brown and yellow to blue and white.

Kwasi Kwarteng: How do you understand changing?

Kojo Yankson: Please, since you are here to answer our questions, you tell us what he meant.

Kwasi Kwarteng: No, but if I offer an explanation, and you want to place a different interpretation to it, how do you want me to go about it?

Kojo Yankson: I have made no interpretation, I simply repeated his words. So can you explain what he meant?

Kwasi Kwarteng: That's why I said that the whole context is very important. And the context is that the Minister adduced I mean evidence of initiatives and steps to rebrand and I mean, facelift the basic schools. And as part of that, he also made mention of, of course, steps to even introduce new school uniforms. That's why he mentioned about we are changing the school uniforms. I mean, I don't think we are at a different page. And I never said the minister did not say that. I admitted that indeed it’s part of the overall efforts to facelift the basic schools or basic education. I'm not sure anybody has denied that the Minister has said that, but I'm saying that it has not taken effect. It is still a futuristic thing, that if we say we are changing, or we changing public schools to make it better, I mean, it doesn't mean that tomorrow the whole public school system will then become like, like, let’s say the AIS or the big private schools that we all know in Ghana. It is not an event, it's a process and it will take time to materialise. If we say we are changing uniforms, it doesn’t mean uniforms have been changed.

Kojo Yankson: Why blue and white for the repainting of the schools?

Kwasi Kwarteng: Which other colour do you propose?

Kojo Yankson: Is it that you don't know the answer, because you just have to tell us why blue and white, you are at the Ministry, you have brought two colours, blue and white, explain them. Can't you?

Kwasi Kwarteng: No, but in the first place, today we are using brown and eh, I don't even know the other colour. Have we offered explanations to why it’s brown and I don't know whether it’s gold, but I mean why are we also using the same colour? You see, you see, let me, let me, you see the path that you are taking me to, you make the conversation very difficult. And of course I have read I mean sections, I mean certain reports from online and what have you. If you look at the line that you are drawing or you're pushing me to, I mean, I refuse to be invited there.

Winston Amoah: Mr. Kwasi Kwarteng you have decided on colours, we are only saying, what led to the choice of these colours? You have the option to share them with us.

Kwasi Kwarteng: I am saying that, I am saying that, as I speak with you, the Minister has spoken of efforts or plans to rebrand basic schools education. And I also made a point about the fact that the current uniform, if you look at the value, and association or even the confidence that the public places on it, it is something that I mean it's nothing to write home about. And so for that matter…

Winston Amoah: Kwasi that is not what we are talking about, we're talking about the physical structure. We say why the decision to go blue and white? Why the choice of these colours?

Kwasi Kwarteng: Since when did white become a problem in Ghana? And since when did blue become a problem in Ghana?

Winston Amoah: Kwasi if you just pay attention one minute. I don't sit in the Ministry with you. So you at the Ministry have taken a decision to paint blue and white. I don't know the reasons why you chose blue and white. If you know, tell me why blue and white.

Kwasi Kwarteng: You see the point is that if I'm being very honest with you, I don't think it's a relevant question. I don't think is a relevant question. I mean, from your logic we should be, maybe even asking of why all other ministries, maybe we have I mean certain colours when it comes to the painting. I cannot just get this question.

Kojo Yankson: Kwasi, do you know the answer to the question? Do you know? If you don’t you can say ‘no’ and we will move on. If you don't know the answer, you can say I don't know the answer and we'll move on.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Can I tell you something, you see the whole hegemony and idea to reduce journalism into cross-examination, I feel is misplaced, where when you ask questions, you ask with your own prejudices, and, and, and, and, and you want to box people into certain areas or solicit certain answers, is not the best. You asked why blue and white? Of course I responded to you, that why, were you also expecting any other different colours? It should have been what?

Winston Amoah: Kwasi, Kwasi let’s put this into… I mean we can go into theories of journalism, that’s later. Not today. The simple question we asked you, and this should be the last time I've asked this question. I said, you sit in the Ministry. What led to the choice of these colours? Unfortunately, Kwasi, you are not answering the question and you're going into, you know, you're going round in circles about what constitutes journalism. Let me move on. It's obvious you don't have an answer to this question. Now you have also said that… since you want to do journalism, I am teaching you journalism by moving on. Now let's get to the other part of the interview where you say that the Minister’s statement that we are changing is futuristic, Kwasi, we are changing means you are in the course of doing something. How does that amount to plans that you have when you say you are doing it and you are rebranding and we will see these colours?

Kwasi Kwarteng: I did not hear your last question.

Winston Amoah: I said that, when you said to us that these plans about, you know, this talk about school uniform changes and you know, painting of structures or I mean the buildings, are something that is, I mean these are in the future. But when we played the sound The Minister says we are changing. We are rebranding. This clearly shows something that is ongoing, currently being done and not something that you have a plan to do in the future.

Kwasi Kwarteng: You see, you see, to be to be fair, to be fair, you would have to play the full audio to Ghanaians to be able to have a better appreciation of the interpretation that you are giving us now. You don't play one minute or 30 seconds audio of about an entire 40 minutes presentation and force, I mean, how do you call it, an interpretation in a line that you want the interpretation to be. I speak for the Ministry, you called, I gave explanations. I even gave the context within which it was said. Then you go and play a one minute audio to say that this and this, and indeed, indeed, indeed, indeed, indeed, I mean, even if the Ministry is taking steps to rebrand public basic schools in the areas of even their uniforms and colouring, what is so strange about that? Is that the first time we are seeing that in this country? And is that so alien to the Ministry to be able to implement this? The point I'm trying to make is that we try to make a mountain out of a molehill which I don't think we should make a very big, I mean, issue from this. Granted without even admitting that there are even some schools that have been painted blue and white, or there are uniforms that are even blue and white which we've never even seen in this country. Do we have to make an issue from everything?

Kojo Yankson: Are you saying that we shouldn't ask you why you do things?

Kwasi Kwarteng: No, you should ask, no problem with that, but you see when you ask questions that, of course, I saw your online publications and other I mean, when you ask questions about what informed blue and white and other views, of course we all know the line that you are towing. That’s why I asked did you expect any other colours?

Kojo Yankson: What line is that? Tell us the line we are towing.

Kwasi Kwarteng: I'm not sure this is healthy. We can't be doing this. If your answers are exhausted let’s end this interview.

Kojo Yankson: Oh, you can end it at any time.

Kwasi Kwarteng: You called me.

Kojo Yankson: Would you like us to hang up?

Kwasi Kwarteng: No, you called me. If you are ready, you can hang up.

Kojo Yankson: Alright. Thanks for your time. Kwasi Kwarteng is the spokesperson to the Minister and the Ministry of Education. We called him because we wanted to know why they have decided to repaint basic schools blue and white and why they decided to change school uniforms to black and white.