The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to show compassion and solidarity to one another as the country goes through difficult economic times.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 31st Biennial General Council meeting of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, held at the CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) in Navrongo, Upper East Region, Mr Mahama highlighted the importance of unity in these challenging times.

Mr Mahama, who is also a member of the Assemblies of God Church, emphasized the severity of the economic difficulties facing the country. 

He noted that the ongoing financial crisis has exacerbated the hardships experienced by many Ghanaians, making it more important than ever for citizens to support one another.

The former president pointed to recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service, which has shown a worrying increase in multidimensional poverty across the country. 

He stressed that these statistics reflect the harsh realities that many Ghanaians are currently living through, and underscored the need for collective action to alleviate the suffering.

During his address, Mr Mahama called on all Ghanaians, regardless of their political affiliations, to work together in the spirit of compassion and solidarity. 

The former president argued that in times of national crisis, the strength of the country lies in its people’s ability to come together and support one another.

Mr Mahama urged the government to take decisive steps to address the economic challenges and alleviate the burden on the population. 

He reiterated his commitment to working towards solutions that would bring relief to Ghanaians and help the country navigate through these difficult times.

“We’ve seen an increase in multidimensional poverty from the Ghana Statistical Service’s recent statistics. It says that 8 million of our people in 2023 went one day without food because they couldn’t afford it. It means that people are hungrier, and the hardship is real."

“This is the time for us to show compassion to each other because, in times of poverty, we must be our fellow’s keeper,” Mr Mahama urged.