Ghanaian media personality and host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has criticised the government over the recently held National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, which took place despite the devastating floods that claimed at least 34 lives.
According to him, the government was insensitive in proceeding with the event as originally planned despite the national mourning following the June 29, 2026, floods, which resulted in significant loss of lives and destruction of property across the country.
Speaking on his programme on July 3, 2026, Adom-Otchere said he was disappointed in President John Mahama's appointees, particularly his advisers, for failing to recommend changes to the event or turn it into a memorial service for the flood victims.
He argued that while the event could still have been held, the decision to wear white and celebrate was inappropriate given the tragic circumstances.
Adom-Otchere referenced the recent helicopter crash that claimed the lives of government ministers, noting that the state flew the national flag at half-mast and declared a period of mourning. He questioned why a similar level of sensitivity was not shown following the floods.
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"Today, we are seeing it. People have died. Thirty-seven is the number, even if we go by the Interior Minister's figures. People have died from the rainstorm and then the government of Ghana, a day after these deaths, decided to go ahead with a Thanksgiving service that had already been scheduled.
"Did it not occur to anyone to redirect the programme because it could appear insensitive to the families of those who had lost loved ones? Nobody in the Jubilee House could call a quick meeting and suggest changing the event? They could have changed the attire to black and turned it into a commemorative service for the people who died.
"Even though the Bible says we should give thanks in all things, the appearance of the Thanksgiving service should not have been like a normal celebration. Nobody in the Jubilee House was able to think this and say it and let it be done this way…look at the backlash President Mahama is receiving on social media,” he said.
Adom-Otchere said he was concerned about the public reaction to the event, noting that many Ghanaians had criticised the President and his administration over the decision to proceed with the celebration.
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