Presidential Speech Act and Public Backlash: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Aftermath of President Mahama’s Media Encounter in Ghana.

This study examines the public backlash that followed President John Dramani Mahama’s 2025 maiden media encounter in Ghana. The problem addressed is how presidential speech acts, when mediated through the press, can generate negative public reactions and undermine democratic trust. The broad objective is to analyze the speech acts and rhetorical strategies in the encounter and to explore how media framing shaped subsequent public discourse. Anchored in Speech Act Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, Framing Theory, and Politeness and Face Theory, the study adopts a qualitative interpretivist approach, using content analysis and critical discourse analysis of the speech transcript, selected online media reports, and public commentaries. The findings reveal that indirect, satirical, and defensive speech acts, reinforced by media frames emphasizing evasion and blame-shifting, intensified public disapproval. The study recommends clearer, more accountable presidential communication and more balanced media framing to promote democratic engagement and trust.