Be loyal to Ghana and the Constitution despite challenges – Mahama tells security agencies

Former President John Dramani Mahama has told the security agencies not to entertain any idea of engaging in acts that are contrary to the Constitution despite deteriorating economic conditions in Ghana.

He asked them to be loyal to the state and and the Constitution.

Delivering an address at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Thursday October 27, Mr Mahama expressed hope that things will turn around for the better.

He said “together we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want regardless of how bad the situation is. I still have hope that we can turn things around. Whole heartedly, I believe in the resilience of our people.”

To the security agencies, he said “remain loyal to the state and the constitution. The current economic situation does not give excuses to engage in any acts that are unconstitutional, we can turn the situation around.”

Some analysts have expressed concerns that the current economic crisis facing Ghana can cause disturbances.

For example, an economist Mr Kwame Pianim asked the government to act immediately to tackle the situation in order to avert a possible mayhem.

Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Paa Kwesi Asare, Mr Pianim asked the President to take responsibility and come up with a credible message to Ghanaians.

He also asked all persons to drop their entitlement mentality and follow through with the president if he comes up with alternative progremms to ameliorate the hardships.

“The President should take responsibility for this crisis and come up with alternative programme throw away our entitlement mentality and follow the president,” he said.

He further indicated that this is the first time he is seeing hardships of this kind in Ghana.

“This is the first time I have seen such unpresented hardships being visited on Ghana. The crisis can result in upheaval so we need to stop it now.”

Asked whether, in his view, Ghana can seal a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the end of the year, he answered that if the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta who has come under intense pressure to leave office, is removed from the Ministry, that can happen.

He said “with Ken Ofori-Atta gone as Finance Minister and, if the president stands up that this is what I am going to do, I have confidence.”