Former President John Dramani Mahama has slammed the Akufo-Addo-led government describing it as intolerant.

“One of the things you need to be, as a good leader, is the ability to listen and to tolerate criticism,” he emphasised, berating the Akufo-Addo administration of coming at him anytime he criticizes the government.

Mr Mahama’s remarks come on the back of his galamsey comments which in the last few days provoked public backlash, especially from government officials.

“It is a fact that if illegal mining is not controlled, water bodies and farmlands will be destroyed. But as we put a stop to illegal mining, we must apply common sense and ensure that a livelihood package is in place for the miners.

“The tactics of deploying military men to arrest illegal miners is not the way to go because my government has done it before but it failed. The solution is to bring a new mining [law] that will regulate the activities of the miners,” he said at the last Unity Walk in Kumasi.



But his critics referred to his pronouncements as disingenuous and challenged him to produce a single-page document on the alternative policy to stamp out the menace.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu described the ex-president as a “conman” who failed woefully in addressing galamsey issues in his regime.



However, speaking at the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Unity Walk in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on Saturday, 5 May 2018, Mr Mahama said:“Unfortunately, it looks like the current people in government cannot take criticism. When you offer any decision, they call you all kinds of unprintable names, but I was not brought up to use unprintable names against my political opponents.”

He added: “When I was president, I was probably one of the most criticised and insulted president’s but the mark of good leadership is that you maintain your calm and you maintain your focus.”