MTN Abandons �Ede Be Keke� Slogan After NDC Hijacked It...

The ruling National Democratic Congress has been exposed for �stealing� MTN's 'ede bee keke' slogan during last year's electioneering campaign. According to Cynthia Lumor, Executive Director of MTN Foundation and Corporate Services Director, there was no negotiation or agreement between the company and NDC before the party started using the 'ede bee keke' slogan to canvass for votes. In fact, she stressed that the slogan was appropriated without MTN's consent. �We just got up one fine morning to hear the NDC using our slogan without our prior knowledge or consent,� she lamented. This �day light robbery� followed the �stealing� of NPP's manifesto slogan ' People matter, you matter' few months to the general elections and that of the CPP�s campaign slogan 'Yeresesamu' in 2008 by the NDC. Just like the two political parties which let go of their slogans to enable the NDC have full possession of them, Mrs Lumor said MTN had since stopped using the 'ede bee keke' mantra. This decision, according to her, was taken by management to avoid any conflict or confrontation with the ruling party. This revelation was in response to a question posed by one of the journalists who attended this year's MTN Editors forum in Takoradi last Friday. The questioner had demanded management's response to widespread public perception that MTN is in bed with the ruling NDC and indirectly campaigned for the party by allowing it use the 'ede bee keke ' mantra for votes. But Mrs Lumor insisted that MTN is apolitical and has nothing to do with any political party, adding that the leading telecommunication company has no interest, influence or role to play in determining which political party wins or loses an election. It will be recalled that, short of any meaningful campaign message for the electorate during last year's electioneering campaign, the NDC hijacked MTN's 'ede bee keke' mantra to save its face. Some of the party's gurus, including the then candidate John Dramani Mahama, urged supporters to twist their mouths in a teasing manner when uttering the slogan, apparently to infuriate the NPP.