Former President, John Dramani Mahama has called on government to set its priorities right and avoid arrogance in the face of the current economic hardship in the country.

According to him, government must work on bringing relief to citizens under the current circumstances.

In a Facebook post to commemorate this year's Republic Day, the NDC's 2020 flagbearer further stressed on the need for government to do right by all persons and not just a few.

"Our forebears are observing Ghanaians today going through excruciating suffering and commodity price hikes due to the massive economic downturn. This is certainly not the Ghana they envisaged. Our forbears expected and still expect government to do right to every Ghanaian, not just a few .

Similarly, we the living also expect better from the government. We expect government to set right priorities, eschew arrogance, stop wasteful expenditure, address corruption and tolerate dissent. We also expect government to bring socio-economic relief to Ghanaians", former President Mahama wrote.

The former head of state continued that, "As we observe our Republic Day, let government set their priorities right in order to address the excruciating hardships millions of Ghanaians are going through".

In his conclusion, he wished all Ghanaians a 'Happy Republic Day', and charged citizens to 're-dedicate themselves to building a prosperous nation'.

Meanwhile, the former President has also proffered some solutions to the Akufo-Addo-led government in order to salvage the ailing economy.

According to him, if fiscal discipline is not ensured, Ghana is likely to go "entirely broke like Sri Lanka."

Mr. Mahama was speaking at the launch of a think tank - Think Progress Ghana - on the theme, ‘Ghana’s debt burden, reflections and solutions.’

In his submissions, he suggested that President Akufo-Addo should immediately, among other measures, dismiss the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, because he has failed the country.

In addition, Mr. Mahama asked the President to immediately address the nation on the state of the economy and rally the support of citizens.

“He should conduct a major shakeup of his government to remove all the many dead woods that have turned the ministries into their kingdoms. Finally, he should huddle with the best brains of this country to formulate a comprehensive recovery plan for our economy”, he added.

With regards to Moody’s and Fitch downgrade of Ghana’s credit rating, Mr. Mahama said President Akufo-Addo and his economic management team have failed to make pragmatic decisions aimed at salvaging Ghana’s fragile economy.

“President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Head of the Economic Management Team, rather appallingly, remain nonchalant in the face of this serious crisis and have limited their response to the imposition of very harsh and regressive tax measures, one of which is the e-Levy, which has been roundly rejected by the people of Ghana”.

He further intimated that government has also “resorted to unhelpful political posturing over suggestions on how to stem the downward spiral, ensure discipline, and help the economy recover".