President John Dramani Mahama says criticism and personal attacks do not easily affect him, attributing his resilience to years of political experience and public scrutiny.
Speaking during an engagement with Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, the President addressed concerns about insults and abusive commentary, particularly on social media platforms such as TikTok.
Mahama said his time in public life, including his previous defeat at the polls, had prepared him to withstand personal attacks.
“As a leader, I don’t mind being insulted. I have been insulted, I was vilified, and I was voted out of office, so for me, this skin is a crocodile skin,” he said.
He added that despite criticism, his priority remains carrying out what he considers his responsibilities to Ghana and the wider African continent.
“I will do what is right. I don’t mind the insults,” Mahama stated.
However, the President said the broader issue of how Ghana handles abusive and potentially harmful content on new media platforms requires a national conversation.
He questioned whether the country should allow unrestricted expression on platforms such as TikTok or establish clearer rules governing online conduct.
“All of us have to decide what we want to do with TikTok,” he said, while noting that government could choose to allow people to express themselves freely without arrests.
Mahama's comments form part of a wider discussion about information integrity, social media regulation and the balance between freedom of expression and accountability online.
He has called for stakeholders, including media organisations and civil society groups, to deliberate on how Ghana should approach the regulation of new media platforms.
