Accra Mayor and Media Spar Over Mahama Portrait During Decongestion Press Briefing

Accra Mayor and Media Clash at Kaneshie Decongestion Site Accra, Ghana – Day three of Accra's Kaneshie overhead decongestion exercise saw an unexpected clash between Accra Mayor, Michael Allotey, and representatives of the Ghanaian media. The incident, captured on video, shows a tense exchange during a press briefing. A portrait of former President John Dramani Mahama, hanging behind the Mayor, became the unexpected focus of the disagreement. The video shows the Mayor and a member of the AMA Special Task Force engaging in a discussion about the portrait's placement. The discussion, at times heated, highlights underlying tensions between the Mayor's office and the media. One participant is heard saying, "You have covered Mahama's face and you say the mayor has power." This statement suggests a deeper issue of perceived bias or political messaging. While the specifics of the disagreement remain unclear from the short video clip, the incident underscores the complexities of urban development projects and the role of the media in reporting on such initiatives. The presence of multiple microphones suggests a formal press event, making the spontaneous nature of the discussion all the more noteworthy. The incident provides a glimpse into the often-unseen dynamics between public officials and the press in Ghana.