A UK-based Ghanaian, Ade Sawyerr, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to encourage his ministers to spend more time engaging directly with their constituents rather than frequently attending social events.

He made the appeal during a town hall meeting with President Mahama in London on Sunday, May 31, 2026, where members of the Ghanaian diaspora had the opportunity to interact with the President and government officials.

Sawyerr expressed concern about what he described as the increasing visibility of ministers at social gatherings, warning that it could create a negative perception of government officials as being detached from the everyday challenges faced by ordinary citizens.

According to him, ministers should prioritise grassroots engagement, especially during weekends, when they are more likely to meet and understand the needs of their constituents.

He therefore urged President Mahama to impress upon his appointees the importance of using such periods for direct public interaction and feedback gathering.

“Every weekend, we see on TikTok the ministers at parties instead of being with their constituents. They are talking to each other, blowing time. It does not look good, Mr President. Please tell them that at weekends, they should go back to their constituents and find out what it is that the people of Ghana need,” he urged.

While acknowledging what he described as encouraging economic indicators presented by government officials, Sawyerr stressed that public perception remains a crucial factor in governance.

He noted that even when progress is being made, the visible behaviour of leaders can influence how citizens judge their effectiveness.

“I’ve listened to some of the ministers, and whilst it looks like the metrics are going in the right direction, the optics do not look very good,” he said.

He also commended the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom for organising the engagement, describing it as a valuable platform for dialogue between the President and the Ghanaian community abroad.

Sawyerr further highlighted long-standing challenges such as recurring flooding in Accra, saying they require urgent and sustained attention from government officials. “Every year, there’s perennial flooding. We have not been able to solve that problem in the city of Accra, our main city,” he stated.

The comments formed part of a broader question-and-answer session at the town hall meeting, where participants raised various concerns and suggestions aimed at improving governance and national development.