A UK-based Ghanaian, Ade Sawyerr, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to encourage government ministers to spend more time engaging with their constituents instead of attending social events.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with President Mahama in London on Sunday, May 31, Sawyerr expressed concern over what he described as the increasing visibility of ministers at social gatherings, arguing that it creates the perception that public officials are disconnected from the everyday concerns of Ghanaians.
He urged the President to ensure that ministers use weekends to interact directly with the people they serve and gain a better understanding of their needs.
“Every weekend, we see on TikTok the ministers at parties instead of being with their constituents. They are talking to each other, blowing time. It does not look good, Mr President. Please tell them that at weekends, they should go back to their constituents and find out what it is that the people of Ghana need,” he said.
Sawyerr acknowledged the positive economic indicators highlighted by some government officials but noted that public perception of their activities remains a concern.
“I’ve listened to some of the ministers, and whilst it looks like the metrics are going in the right direction, the optics do not look very good,” he stated.
He also pointed to the persistent flooding challenges in Accra as an issue that requires greater attention from government officials.
“Every year, there’s perennial flooding. We have not been able to solve that problem in the city of Accra, our main city,” he noted.
Sawyerr commended the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom for organising the town hall meeting, which provided members of the Ghanaian diaspora with an opportunity to engage directly with the President.
The comments were made during a question-and-answer session at the event, where members of the Ghanaian community shared concerns and recommendations on governance and national development.
