By Rebecca Ekpe
President John Dramani Mahama’s media encounter on September 10, 2025, is expected to be a significant event, providing a platform for him to engage with the Ghanaian public and media on pressing national issues. Given the President’s previous statements on press freedom, journalists might ask about concrete steps to protect media professionals and promote a free press.
Historically, Presidential Media Encounters have strict rules for journalists, and the September 10 encounter at Jubilee House would be no exception. As journalists across the length and breadth of the country prepare for the first official media encounter at the Presidency, nine months into the Mahama administration, discussions are underway within the media fraternity about which questions are a must-ask. While the platform provides President Mahama an avenue to engage with the Ghanaian public and the media on pressing national issues, one would ask, what are the key expectations, and what questions are journalists likely to ask? Rebecca Ekpe has more.
Press freedom, along with journalists’ safety, is likely to top the agenda at the Presidential Media Encounter. Ultimately, President Mahama had expressed concern over Ghana’s declining press freedom rankings, citing harassment of journalists and the murder of Ahmed Suale as contributing factors. Obviously, journalists would be interested and may ask about the President’s specific plans to address these issues, in the interest of protecting media professionals in Ghana.
At a recent meeting with the Ghana Journalists Association, President Mahama hinted at resurrecting the Media Development Fund. As Mr. Mahama pledged to revive the Media Development Fund in next year’s budget, promising transparent management through a joint Government-GJA board, journalists would be interested in this particular area of discussion.
The evolution of Ghana’s state-owned media and its place in consolidating Ghanaian democracy would also be on the radar at the Presidential Media Encounter. In recent times, President Mahama has encouraged the modernization of state-owned media, suggesting digital subscription models like The New York Times. Journalists may ask about his vision for Ghana’s public broadcasting and its role in promoting local language education and adult literacy.
Another topic that the media would quiz the President on is the government’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda. Mr. Mahama’s plans for resetting Ghana’s economy and development, including his strategies for economic growth, job creation, and social welfare, would be points of interest for journalists nine months into the Mahama administration.
Electoral violence, especially post-election conflicts, the recent conflict in the Savannah Region, galamsey, ORAL, among others, would constitute accountability questions journalists are likely to ask the President.
In all of this, journalists would be required to pose compelling, clear, concise, and direct questions to President Mahama, largely on policies, with the view to elicit answers that speak to the issues affecting the nation, government policies, actions, and future plans for Ghanaians.
