President Mahama has said he does not take offence when citizens accuse his government of leading the country in the wrong direction, insisting that public criticism helps him to identify problems and improve governance.
Speaking during an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Moscow, the President said he does not dismiss criticism, even from people who believe his administration is taking the country the wrong way. According to him, public feedback allows him to see where things are going wrong and to demand answers from those responsible.
“I don’t mind if people tell me I am leading the country in the wrong direction because I am trying to do my best. Criticism helps me to do better. So when people criticise me and say this is not right, I am not offended,” he said.
Mr Mahama explained that he sometimes comes across complaints in the media and personally contacts ministers to ask for explanations about developments in their sectors. He said such criticism often prompts him to question his appointees and urge them to address the issues the public has brought to his attention.
He recounted how these exchanges unfold, saying he asks the minister concerned what is happening in his or her sector, listens to the response, and, where necessary, tells the minister to improve. In his words, he tells them “you better sit up because I have seen this and that and it helps me to be a better leader”.
The President also sent a message to Ghanaians who air their grievances online, stressing that citizens should not assume the Presidency does not notice their social media posts. He said he pays attention to the conversations and complaints circulating on those platforms.
“So all your TikToks and things, don’t think I don’t see them. I see them,” President Mahama said.
To illustrate how social media feedback informs government action, he cited a complaint about a bridge in the Ashanti Region, which had reportedly been affected by illegal mining activities and washed away.
The President said he saw the information on social media and immediately forwarded it to the minister responsible, requesting that the situation be looked into.
According to him, the minister subsequently visited the location and reported that a blocked channel was contributing to the problem. An excavator was then deployed to clear the channel and allow water to flow.
“That is how you solve some of these things,” he said.
President Mahama believes the growing influence of new media presents an opportunity for government. In his view, it allows the administration to receive information directly from citizens and to respond to challenges as they emerge.
“The new media is an advantage because it gives us information in real time,” he added.
President Mahama’s message to the Ghanaian community in Moscow was therefore twofold. To critics, he said that he is not offended by their views, even when they believe he is taking the country in the wrong direction. To members of his government, he signalled that complaints raised by the public, wherever they appear, are likely to reach him and may result in a call demanding answers.
