General News of Friday, 19 January 2018

Source: peacefmonline.com

Akufo-Addo media encounter: Some questions asked 'needless & unnecessary' - Atik

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, January, 17, 2018, had an encounter with media practitioners in the country to respond to their questions regarding the performance of his government.

The Presidential Media Encounter which was held at the Flagstaff House saw in attendance several journalists from various media houses who took turns to request answers on national issues.

The event which is the second since President Akufo-Addo assumed office last year is organized for the journalists to be the mouthpiece of the general public ensuring that significant questions which affect the economy and Ghanaians are asked and solutions provided by the Head of State.

But to Atik Mohammed, PNC stalwart, the journalists disappointed him with the kind of questions they posed to the President during such occasion.

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Atik Mohammed was disgusted that some journalists got the opportunity to ask nationalistic questions but they went to the function to hero-worship the President.

He cited two questions he deemed as the worst.

"...My question is, something unprecedented happened in Ghana here, that is during your first year, that is the coming in of visitors mostly Presidents. Classical example was the Emir of Qatar, President Macron and all those people coming in. In your view Mr. President, what do you think accounted for their interest in coming into Ghana, especially in your first year?”

"...we are in the 25th year of the 4th republic and 2012/2013, you led the NPP to the Supreme Court, the petition, I will like to find out whether the live coverage, the outcome and the immediate consensus or acceptance of the ruling is a major hallmark of the 25th anniversary of the 4th republic?”.

Without mincing words, Atik Mohammed asserted that these questions were "needless. They were unnecessary and a lot of them were just downright praise comments. What you did yesterday was not good at all. All Ghanaians are complaining. You absolutely didn’t do well”.

He hoped journalists, when given an opportunity to drill the President, would asked relevant questions that will have a positive impact on Ghanaians.