Former Deputy Minister of Finance Abena Osei-Asare has called on President John Dramani Mahama to pay closer attention to the concerns being raised by Ghanaians about the state of the country.
Speaking to The Ghana Report during the “Democracy Under Attack” protest on Thursday, August 6, she said the government must not dismiss criticism simply because it comes from the political opposition.
According to her, the concerns being raised by citizens should be taken seriously because they are intended to help the country improve.
“We all know what is happening in Ghana. Things are not going as they are supposed to go,” she said.
She urged President Mahama to “open your eyes” and take a critical look at the challenges confronting the country rather than ignoring complaints from political opponents.
Abena Osei-Asare argued that criticism should not be rejected simply because it comes from a party that is not in government. She said the administration must be willing to listen to different voices and consider concerns based on their merits.
“All we are saying is, President, open your eyes, see things. Things aren’t going well,” she stated.
She also questioned what she described as a difference in the way the government responds to criticism from the opposition and concerns raised by international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“When the opposition says you have a problem with it, but when the IMF says it, you take it,” she said.
Her comments came as supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other opposition parties took part in the demonstration in Accra to raise concerns over issues they believe threaten Ghana’s democracy and governance.
The protest, dubbed “Democracy Under Attack,” brought together Ghanaians who expressed concerns about developments in the country.
Abena Osei Asare maintained that the government should recognise the concerns being expressed by citizens and take steps to address them.
She stressed that complaints from Ghanaians should not automatically be viewed as political attacks, but as an indication that people want the government to improve its handling of national issues.
“Open your eyes and see that things are not going well,” she added.
