General News of Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Source: peacefmonline.com

Mahama is becoming intolerant - Nana Akomea

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikoi South and immediate past Director of Communications of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea believes President John Dramani Mahama is becoming intolerant of Ghanaians judging by his (President’s) recent comments.

According to him, the President call to his critics to halt radio discussions which intend to attack his government is “unfortunate” since he (President) was once a communicator for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when in opposition.

“The President said we should stop ranting on radio…I can’t believe it. Where does he want us to talk? Should we go to his office? Is he trying to say that it’s useless when we go to radio stations to talk? I just don’t understand the president,” he said.

He continued; “…President Mahama over the years has been a radio and television personality. When he was an MP and a minister, I (Nana Akomea) personally have been on several media platforms with him (President Mahama) to discuss issues concerning governance. For 10 years, radio and television have been part and parcel of John Mahama’s life…. So why is he complaining now?”

President Mahama, over the weekend, called on his critics to join forces with him in bettering the lives of Ghanaians instead of raving and ranting on radio.

Addressing congregants of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, as the Guest of Honour, during their 120th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, President Mahama pontificated that excessive talk on radio aimed at attacking his led administration will not help solve issues.

“It doesn’t pay to vent our frustration on radio talk show programmes. If we must build a better and prosperous nation, all of us need to come together and act in concert. The quest to build a desirous, prosperous and better Ghana is the responsibility of all of us,” he said

But speaking on Asempa FM, Nana Akomea opined that it appears “there is some intolerance in the president now. For those of us who know him very well, we never imagined this kind of attitude from him (President Mahama). It’s very sad to hear the President speak that way.”

He however doubts if the President really meant his words when he called on all to help him fix Ghana’s economy since some of his appointees and party members are lamenting that they cannot get access “to even see the president”.