Leader of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to subject himself to questioning from journalists but says, the format of the encounter must change to ensure true accountability.
Speaking on GBC’s ‘Current Agenda’ show on Saturday September 13, Mr Mornah said while it was positive that the President made himself available, the engagement was too concentrated in Accra and excluded key voices from across the regions.
“The media in Ghana is broad. We have regional media houses and sector-specific journalists — some focus on agriculture, some on energy, others on the environment. If the President says he is opening up to questioning, then the opportunity must include all of them,” he stressed.
He also criticized the structure of the event, arguing that the President’s 28-minute opening statement was unnecessarily long, leaving less time for questioning. According to him, an opening of not more than three minutes would allow the media to raise more pressing issues and give the public a deeper sense of accountability.
Mr Mornah further suggested that the encounters should be held regularly and across different regions, not just in Accra, so that region-specific issues — such as mining, agriculture, and infrastructure — can be addressed directly.
He added that the President must be able to respond to questions without excessive reliance on aides. “If the President cannot answer a question, it raises two concerns: either he is not being briefed properly, or national security is failing to update him. There is no shame in admitting this, but the people deserve transparency,” Mornah said.
While praising the initiative overall, the PNC leader emphasized that the encounters should evolve into a consistent platform for accountability rather than a one-off event.
