Media personality Francis Doku (L) and filmmaker Socrate Safo (R) have clashed over a 2017 article
Media personality, Francis Doku, and filmmaker, Socrate Safo, have ‘clashed’ on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z over an article the former wrote in 2017.
The article, titled “Classless campaign for Deputy Minister of Tourism,” was published in the Graphic Showbiz on January 19, 2017.
In the article, Francis Doku criticised a campaign by some industry players who were pushing for Socrate Safo to be appointed Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, under former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.
Francis Doku described the campaign at the time as “classless,” suggesting that it felt as if people were trying to force the president’s hand.
“It was as though the president had to appoint Safo or live to regret it,” Francis Doku wrote in part of the article.
On July 12, 2025, during a conversation on Showbiz A-Z, Socrate Safo was asked how he felt when he came across the article.
He noted that he was not happy with the piece and said it was written from a place of ignorance.
“I felt funny because he wrote it out of ignorance. Has he lobbied before? Is there any formula to lobby? The person speaking has never lobbied before. And he is writing something from his ignorant point,” Socrate said.
When asked whether he harboured any grudge against Francis Doku for what he wrote, Socrate said he did not.
He explained that he had moved on, though he still believed the article lacked understanding of the lobbying process.
“No, that’s the last thing I have in my heart. Grudge with people? No. And you should know me for that. I know that he’s doing his part from his ignorant point. There are a whole lot of things that people do out of ignorance. It is only when you get deep into it,” he said.
Socrate also argued that certain criticisms should only come from people with real-life experiences on the issues being discussed.
He said, for example, he would never expect Francis Doku to criticise event organisers because he once organised an event that didn’t go well and, therefore, understands how difficult the job is.
In the same way, he said he believed Francis Doku should not have criticised the lobbying efforts for a deputy minister role.
“I don’t think Francis Doku will ever criticise any event organiser. No, because he has organised an event before and it flopped. So, he understands what it takes to organise. But he has not lobbied before. So, that piece was a figment of his own imagination,” he said.
However, responding to Socrate’s remarks live on the show, Francis Doku disagreed.
He argued that having direct experience in something is not the only reason one can have an opinion or offer criticism.
“No, I say your premise is wrong. To say that if you haven’t done this before, you can’t criticize, I think it’s a wrong premise. The fact that I haven’t worked at Joy FM before doesn’t mean that if I listen to a programme and it isn’t nice I can’t say it… No, what you’re saying is that if I haven’t done something before, I cannot criticise. And I’m saying that’s wrong. I haven’t done a film before like you. But if I watch a movie and I feel from where I sit that it’s wrong, I will criticise it,” Francis responded.
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