President John Dramani Mahama, over the weekend, urged Ghanaians to demonstrate optimism and shed the pessimism that has taken a better part of societal thinking.

According to him, cynicism among Ghanaians, more than any other thing, is what is holding the country back.

“We must be a nation of optimists; People who believe that we can claim the future and that the future is bright for us…But unfortunately, we are letting pessimism hold us down.”

“Every day you open our media and it’s like our country is the worst in the world. And if you think your country is the worst country in the world, then you will not make progress,” he said.

The President, who made the call at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi last Saturday when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as part of his three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, further added "we equally must believe that we can claim the future and that the future is bright for us as a people".

But James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, popularly known as ‘Kabila’, a former National Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has asked the President to do a self-evaluation and find out if his administration has done anything positive for Ghanaians to have any sense of hope.

According to him, the only way one can be optimistic is when there are positive signs of development “but if no development is taking place, how can one be optimistic?”

He asked on Monday’s edition of Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ hosted by Kwami Sefa Kayi: “Which region or sector of the economy would you say that everything is working? The economy, your Excellency, with all the touted experience, is achieving nothing. You have been an MP, (Member of Parliament), Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President and now President…in terms of the long stay in politics; there is none like Prez Mahama, but all these experiences are not being reflected in the development of the country. In urging us to be optimistic, he (Prez Mahama) should be sincere and realistic with us.”

Meanwhile, Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanten Agyarko, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon has asked President Mahama to point out to Ghanaians what significantly his administration has achieved before asking them to be optimistic.

Speaking on the same platform and on the same issue, Hon Agyarko asked: “Has he sacrificed for the betterment of Ghanaians? What has been done in the last one year for Ghanaians to be so hopeful or optimistic? If you are able to show us then perhaps, we shall be. What are the things you have done to encourage us to be optimistic?”