President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that he regularly monitors complaints and concerns shared by Ghanaians on social media platforms, including TikTok, and forwards relevant issues to government appointees for attention.
He said the growing use of digital platforms had given citizens an additional channel to draw the government’s attention to challenges in their communities, providing information that could prompt timely interventions.
Speaking to Ghanaians in Russian during the Summit, Mahama explained how he uses social media to monitor developments across the country, asserting that he does not ignore videos and complaints posted online, particularly those highlighting problems with roads, infrastructure and public services.
“So all your TikToks and things, don’t think I don’t see them, I see them,” he said.
The President explained that when he comes across a complaint that requires attention, he shares it with the relevant minister or government official and requests that the matter be investigated.
He cited an incident involving a bridge in the Ashanti Region, which he said had reportedly been washed away following activities by illegal miners.
According to him, he forwarded the information to the Ashanti Regional Minister and asked him to establish what had happened.
“So when I see it, I send it to the minister in charge. So I sent it to the Ashanti regional minister and I said, what is happening here, can you go and check it out?” he recounted.
President Mahama said the Regional Minister subsequently visited the location and reported that a blocked water channel was contributing to the problem.
He said the minister informed him that an excavator was being sent to the area to clear the obstruction and allow water to flow freely.
The President used the incident to explain how social media complaints could translate into practical responses when the information reached the appropriate authorities.
“And I mean, that’s how you solve some of these issues,” he said.
Mahama highlights real-time value of social media
President Mahama described new media as an important tool for governance, particularly because it allows government to receive information about challenges in communities as they emerge.
He noted that citizens no longer have to rely solely on traditional channels to communicate their concerns, as social media provides an avenue for them to share videos, report problems and seek intervention.
“The new media is an advantage because it gives us information in real time,” he said.
He also disclosed that complaints about roads are among the issues he forwards to officials responsible for the relevant infrastructure.
Giving an example, he said he sends road-related concerns to an official he identified as Agboja, asking him to explain the situation and what could be done.
“If somebody puts something and complains about their road, I send it to Agboja and I say, Agboja, this road, these people are complaining, what’s your issue with it?” he said.
He added that the official sometimes provides explanations about the nature of the road and the interventions being considered.
