For the umpteenth time President John Mahama has expressed aversion to media criticisms of his stewardship stopping short of yelling at the critics ?shut up folks.?
He no longer appreciates the bountiful advantages offered the political establishment when an aggrieved and stressed people vent their frustrations through media outlets; the alternative could be an outright, yet, unacceptable breach of law and order.
The last time he let go his opprobrium and outrage at his critics was when he described those of them on radio as lazy who entertain all manner of persons on their morning political shows. His demeanour when he expressed his disappointment at such programmes of which he used to be a part, was inappropriate and incompatible with his political pedigree.
In his reaction Nana Akomea, former Communications Director of the NPP who shared radio platforms with the then Hon. John Mahama to state their party positions on national issues, wondered whether the aversion was originating from a different John Mahama.
For the information of the NPP man, President John Mahama sees things differently from the time he was not holding the highest position in the country where he always sought to punch holes in his opponents? policies. The media he used to woo are now fiendish, unworthy of presidential favours.
Expectedly, the incendiary remark had many Ghanaians reacting rather scathingly. Their question: what has changed between the interregnum when the President used to be a regular radio and TV station guest taking issues with the NPP government and now?
Are we to take it that government does not consider such outpouring of frustrations and remarks as appropriate means of gauging public opinions and take on policies? Amazing and incredible!
The public outcry against the recent hikes in utility tariffs emanated from the same garrulous Ghanaians the President is taking issues with, yet he had to order a downward revision.
President Mahama?s aversion exposes him as one too sensitive to criticisms, a negative attribute of a head of state who should rather uphold the tenets of democracy in all its departments.
Responding rather sarcastically and insultingly to every concern raised by his opponents and sometimes his colleagues from the NDC does not cut him as one worthy of adulations which unfortunately sets him apart from the John Mahama of years gone by.
Power has a way of transforming people who wield it into completely different persons from what they used to be. The gentleman in the hot seat is presenting such a picture undoubtedly and would make a perfect case study in this area of human behaviour under varying conditions.
We wish the President could wash his face and appreciate the importance of open expression of views and opinions on critical national issues; after all, that is the spirit of democracy through which he ascended the highest office.
Ghanaians are not about to stop talking and criticising a wobbling government anytime soon, given the many governance blunders, corruption and the palpable absence of light at the end of a dark tunnel.
