Former President John Mahama has jabbed President Akufo-Addo over his decision not to respond to attacks on him by presidential aspirants of the opposition party.

According to Mr. Mahama, the presidential aspirants are also citizens of the land who are playing their civic roles by keeping President Akufo-Addo and his government in check.

Flagbearer hopefuls of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been criticising the government of Nana Akufo-Addo, at meetings with constituency delegates as part of their campaign tours.

President Akufo-Addo, speaking at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, said: "I am sure you have seen and heard some of the presidential aspirants of the leading opposition party taking jabs at my government in order, ostensibly, to prop up their campaigns. And, whilst at it, they desperately trying to get me to respond to them.

"Let me state here and now, for the record, president Akufo-Addo will not respond to presidential aspirants. He will respond to presidential candidates that have been duly elected by their parties.

"Then, he will engage those who think Ghanaians have short memories."

But addressing delegates of the NDC on Saturday, November 17, Mr. John Mahama remarked that: “As presidential aspirants, we are also citizens and not spectators.”

The President, Mr. Mahama said, has the responsibility to listen to the issues of concern of the NDC flagbearer hopefuls because they are also citizens, he added.

About 9,000 delegates of the largest opposition party have gathered at the Fantasy Dome at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, Accra, to elect new leaders to steer the party for the next four years and possibly deliver victory in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary polls.

“The cry is ‘Ô‘nko yie’ [not going well]” the former president stated.

He also urged candidates who will emerge victorious as well as those who may not be lucky, to unite and work together for the party to return to power in January 2021.