I monitor TikTok, other social media platforms to address public concerns – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that he actively monitors TikTok and various other social media platforms to identify public concerns and direct government ministers to address emerging issues in real time. This disclosure, made during an interaction with the Ghanaian community in Russia on Thursday, October 29, 2026, highlights a notable shift in how the executive branch gathers grassroots intelligence and responds to civic feedback in the digital age.

The Office of the President, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, the National Communications Authority, and the broader frameworks of public administration are designed to facilitate responsive and accountable governance. In an era where digital platforms serve as primary conduits for public discourse, the ability of the executive to harness real-time data from social media is critical for identifying localized governance failures, infrastructure deficits, and service delivery gaps. By integrating digital monitoring into the presidential workflow, the administration aims to bypass traditional bureaucratic delays, ensuring that relevant ministries and regional authorities are held accountable for prompt remedial action.

Addressing the diaspora gathering on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit, President Mahama emphasized the practical utility of these digital channels in his daily governance routine. He directly assured content creators and citizens that their online posts regarding public issues do not go unnoticed, stating, “So all your TikToks and things, don’t think I don’t see them. I see them.” To illustrate the tangible impact of this digital surveillance, he cited a specific incident involving a bridge compromised by illegal mining activities and flooding in the Ashanti Region. Upon encountering a social media report detailing the crisis, the President immediately forwarded the information to the Ashanti Regional Minister for investigation. The minister subsequently discovered that a blocked water channel was the root cause and deployed an excavator to clear the obstruction and restore normal water flow. Highlighting the strategic value of this approach, the President noted, “The new media is an advantage because it gives us information in real time.” He further encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report governance failures openly, regardless of their political affiliations.

The President’s reliance on social media as a diagnostic tool for governance underscores the evolving dynamics of public accountability. While traditional reporting mechanisms and formal grievance channels remain essential, the immediacy of platforms like TikTok provides an unfiltered view of the challenges faced by communities on the ground. The long-term efficacy of this approach, however, depends on the government’s capacity to systematically translate viral complaints into sustained policy solutions and infrastructural repairs, rather than isolated, reactive fixes. As digital citizenship continues to shape public discourse, fostering a collaborative and transparent relationship between the state and the public will be essential for ensuring that real-time feedback leads to meaningful, lasting improvements in national service delivery.

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