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President John Dramani Mahama says he is a tested and proven candidate who deserves to be retained in the general elections set for December 7.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign of Pru East MP Kwabena Donkor, President Mahama urged Ghanaians not to be swayed by the relentless criticisms against his government.

Our elders say the man who weeds thorny bushes with his mouth, he never hurts, to wit "it is easy to criticise when someone is implementing a task", the President spoke in Twi.

The reality is that it takes experience to govern a country, he said and drew an analogy with football.

When the likes of Asamoah Gyan and Abedi Pele are playing, spectators and analysts always criticise and suggest that given the opportunity, they will play better. But when you field him, they give off a lethargic display, he said to the cheering NDC supporters.

"We are winning and you want Dede Ayew and Asamoah Gyan to be substituted so a rookie can play, it does not make sense, he quipped.

Talking is the easy part...even a child can do that but if you have not been tried and tested you cannot deliver," he jabbed his opponents last Tuesday.

The President explained that his government's commitment to improving the country's infrastructure demonstrates his tested and proven leadership.

President Mahama said his government is responsible for "the most massive investments in the road sector in the history of Ghana because over the last four years....we have invested nearly GHC3billion" in that sector alone.

With this record, he said it is only a matter of time before government constructs roads in the district. This, he explained, is in line with government's policy to build between three to five kilometres of town roads in every district capital.

President Mahama, therefore, urged the Yeji chiefs and people eager to see developments in their communities to keep calm because the NDC government has them at heart.

The President also said government is working hard to restore the operations of the ferry to facilitate traveling on the Volta lake which links the northern part of the country to the south.