“The direction this country is going is dangerous, Ghana is sick" – Rev. Fr. Adu Poku tells President Mahama

A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr Louis Cecilia Adu Poku, has warned President John Dramani Mahama that Ghana is heading in a dangerous direction and urged him to listen to citizens who raise genuine concerns about the country’s challenges.

Speaking on the second day of the “Transformation with the Priest” programme at the All Saints Catholic Church at Santasi in Kumasi on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Rev. Fr. Adu Poku said the President must be willing to listen to dissenting voices instead of relying only on people who tell him what he wants to hear.

“The direction this country is going is dangerous. Respectfully, give a listening ear to people who will tell you the truth. This nation, in all indications, is not going in the right direction,” he said.

The Catholic priest particularly expressed concern about the worsening illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise to tackle the menace.

“You promised to stop galamsey within your first hundred days. We've gone beyond that. Galamsey has worsened under your tenure,” Rev. Fr. Adu Poku said.

He further cautioned the President against ignoring people who openly criticise his administration, saying some citizens were being attacked on social media whenever they expressed concerns about the direction of the country.

“It would be good for you to listen to these dissenting voices,” he urged, while drawing a biblical comparison from the story of Prophet Micaiah and King Ahab, who, according to him, ignored the lone voice that spoke against the opinions of other prophets.

Rev. Fr. Adu Poku also warned that Ghana's environmental challenges could have serious consequences for future generations, particularly the destruction of water bodies through illegal mining.

“Ghana is sick; our water bodies have been destroyed. We should think about the future generation,” he said.

He assured the President that the Church would continue to pray for him but urged him to make decisions that would protect the national interest.

“It’s up to you, Your Excellency, to listen. Make the right decisions for the good of this country,” he added.