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0 Ghanaian journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere, has criticised President John Mahama for what he sees as an avoidance of press accountability.
In his first-ever podcast appearance, he argued that the current form of democracy being practiced in Ghana reduces government accountability.
He added that if Ghana were to adopt the British-style parliamentary system, it would enhance transparency.
Speaking to Derick Elorm Ashilevi, host of the Talk No Dey Cook Rice Podcast, Paul stated that “Nobody has ever heard former President Akufo-Addo speak about the National Cathedral.”
“Neither has he responded to rumors that his daughter owns a restaurant somewhere.”
Mr Adom-Otchere claimed that all three of Ghana’s past presidents held, at most, two press conferences and stopped when questions began to hit too close to home.
He fears President Mahama may follow in the same footsteps.
“We claim our system is modeled after America, yet John Mahama, who became president before Donald Trump, hasn’t held even one press conference—while Trump has held 102. So you can’t ask Mahama anything.
Whether the boxing match was state-sponsored, or what really happened in Ablekuma North—you can’t ask, because the system doesn’t demand it. We need a system that troubles the president because he controls the national purse. It’s been six months, and President Mahama is yet to face the press. He may never do it,” he explained.
