Mahama acted like Trump with his 'cabal' comment - Casely-Hayford

Leading member of OccupyGhana, Sydney Casely Hayford has likened President John Dramani Mahama to Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump for his recent comments there existed a 'cabal' in the Ghanaian media which was sabotaging his government.

President Mahama speaking with Ovation Magazine complained that some anti-National Democratic Congres elements in whom he described as a “cabal”  had hijacked sections of the Ghanaian media and were blocking his message of “transformation” by downplaying the development projects he had undertaken.

“A certain group has taken control of the media in Ghana, and it makes it difficult for people to discern the truth. So as much as you are putting out the information, it is either being blocked or distorted,” he said in the interview.

His comments sparked up a debate with many including the Editor of the pro-NDC Al-Hajj newspaper Alhaji Iddrissu Bature criticising that the comment was not necessary because was the problem was from his own stables.

In an intervew on Wednesday, Alhaji Bature advised the government and its appointees to check themselves to see why the media was undermining it because for him, the government's communicators and appointees were not doing well enough so President Mahama should rather blame his people.

"Have John Mahama and his government been able to explains things better to Ghanaians? Isn't there hardship in Ghana?"

Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu a few moments after Alhaji Bature's statement, supported President Mahama's claim saying "it is true that some of the media houses have deliberately decided to speak ill of government".

Dismissing Alhaji Bature's claims,  he said government's communication machinery was doing its work well.

But speaking on Citi FM's news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr Casely-Hayford stated that President Mahama's satement was not true.

According to him, President Mahama should not be making any such complaints because he has been receiving more that enough coverage from the state broadcaster.

"The state broadcaster covers government events more than any other party", he maintained, adding that "when you make comments and use the word 'cabal', you are acting like Donald Trump".