The Office of the President, on Monday reacted to media publications that President John Evans Atta Mills had scolded Ghanaians for complaining about the living standards in the country.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson addressing a press conference at the Castle, Osu said, "The publication that President Mills was angry with the complaints by Ghanaians, and could not take criticisms is not true".

He said "President Mills never said Ghanaians were complaining too much; neither did he express anger at Ghanaians during last week's tour of the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions as reported in a section of the Ghanaian media.

"None of these reports in the newspapers are true. We want to set the records straight," Mr Ayariga said.

He said President Mills was not arrogant as portrayed by the publication and dared critics to obtain copies of the voice and video recordings of the tour and prove where he showed signs of arrogance. However, Mr Ayariga pointed out that Government had been faced with challenges and it was "unfair to match achievements of a 10-month old government operating within a period of financial crisis to that of eight years of the past President Kufuor's Administration when the situation was far better than now".

Mr Ayariga pledged government's determination to separate genuine criticisms from vague propaganda, adding "the publication in an Accra newspaper is nothing but a diversionary tactics".

He assured Ghanaians that government would remain focused on its policies for a better Ghana.

Mr Ayariga appealed to the rank and file of the ruling National Democratic Congress to remain steadfast as efforts were being made to address their concerns. 9 Nov. 09