President John Mahama has urged Ghanaians to criticise government decisions whenever they believe the country is being taken in the wrong direction, saying citizens should not remain silent because of political affiliations.
Mahama reflected on Ghana’s borrowing under the previous administration and argued that more people should have spoken out when they saw the country heading towards financial difficulties.
He recalled repeatedly questioning the figures presented by the former Finance Minister, insisting that Ghana’s debt was higher than the amount being reported.
Mahama said the country eventually accumulated more than US$13 billion in Eurobond borrowing, with pensioners and other investors suffering financial losses.
He urged Ghanaians, particularly researchers and experts, not to remain quiet when they identify warning signs in the management of the country.
“Tomorrow, if we see the danger signs that somebody is leading us the wrong way, we must all, all of us, not based on partisan leadings. All of us must say no, we’re not going in the right direction,” he said during an interaction with Ghanaians living in Russia.
The President also said he was open to criticism of his own administration, arguing that public feedback could help him improve his leadership.
“I don’t mind if people tell me that I’m leading the country in the wrong direction. I’m trying to do my best. Criticism helps me to do better,” he said.
Mahama maintained that Ghanaians should hold leaders accountable regardless of the political party in power, rather than wait until the consequences of poor decisions become difficult to reverse.
