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Tag: Nana Akufo-Addo

  • Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana’s President

    Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana’s President

    Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in on Saturday as Ghana’s new president  at a ceremony applauded for its easy transition of power.

    In a speech as he took office, the President said “I will not let the good people of Ghana down.

    “I pledge to do my best to move this country to higher level of development; I will not let the good people of Ghana down.

    “We should move on to deepen our democracy.”

    The 72-year-old president also promised to work with Ghana’s neighbours “to ensure stability on the African continent.”

    The new president, a lawyer who served as Ghana’s foreign minister in 2008, vowed to build on the West African country’s economic success.

    Akufo-Addo got 53.85 per cent of the votes in Ghana’s September election to defeat incumbent John Mahama who got 44 per cent of the votes.

    Report says the peaceful transfer of power from ex-president Mahama was drawing special attention.

    Fourteen African heads of state including Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the ceremony in Accra. (dpa/NAN)

  • Buhari to attend Ghana’s President-elect’s inauguration

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday attend the inauguration ceremony of Ghana’s President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, in Accra.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, will join other Heads of State and Government to witness the swearing-in of the President-elect and Vice President–elect, Mahamudu Bawumia.

    “President Buhari once again congratulates Ghanaians on the peaceful elections and orderly transfer of power from an incumbent to an opposition candidate, and commends outgoing President John Dramani Mahama for his maturity and statesmanship,” the statement said

    President Buhari will return to Abuja at the end of the inauguration ceremony.

     

  • Nigeria’s change mantra ‘ll cut across Africa- Akufo-Addo

    Nigeria’s change mantra ‘ll cut across Africa- Akufo-Addo

    Nigeria laid the foundation for the change that is gradually sweeping across other African countries by electing President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 presidential election.
    Ghana’s President-elect Dr Nana Akufo-Addo stated this in his keynote speech at the 11th edition of The Future Awards Africa, held at in  Lagos.
    “I want to Thank Nigerians for their support before, during and after the just concluded Ghana’s presidential election. The change mantra Nigerians voted for and started in the continent’s political space is what is gradually sweeping across African countries.
    “Gambians also followed the foot steps of Nigeria in the their last election. They also pitched their tents under the canopy of the change mantra, the same thing happened in Ghana and we are optimistic it will be a continental affair.
    “The masses and the youths in Nigeria stick with president buhari. They bought into his vision of a change Nigeria and they gave him their mandate by casting their vote rightly and wisely and that explains what happened in Ghana during the presidential election,” Ghana’s President elect said.
    The Future Awards Africa, called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes is the prizes given annually to celebrate innovation, creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31. It has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006.
    In attendance at this year’s award  were Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Kayode Fayemi, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi’s and the convener of the Bring Back our Girls campaign group, Obiageli Ezekwesili.
    In their company as they received the Ghana President elect into the forum were some notable celebrities from the entertainment industry.
    Some of them were Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ebonylife TV, Mo Abudu, Editor of ThisDay Style, Ruth Osime; Nigerian Singer Timi Dakolo and other young inspiring and successful Nigerians who have shaped youths and lifestyles in the continent through their skills, vocations, technology and innovations.

     

    In the 105 nominees identified across 21 categories, 21 youths were referred to as the key young players that have shaped the continent most and were presented with awards.
    Some of the winners were: SomkeleIyamah- Idhalama, Yemi Alade, Adebayo Oke-Lawal, Theodora Mogo, Osas Ajibade, Kehinde Paul, Dr.Salihu Dansuki, Ifeanyi Orajaka, TosinAjibade, Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Evans Akanno.
    Julius Adewopo,  AdeolaOsunkojo, Chika Oduah, Bolanle Olukanni, Ayo Thompson and Mark Okoye.
  • Ghana’s President-elect pays homage to Buhari

    Ghana’s President-elect pays homage to Buhari

    Ghana’s President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday paid homage to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akufo-Addo, who was in Nigeria for the Future of Africa Awards held in Lagos, said his visit to the Villa gave him opportunity to wish Buhari happy birthday.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari.

    He said: “I came on a private visit to Lagos on Sunday to participate in the Future of Africa Awards and I thought it is proper that I take that opportunity to come to Abuja to pay my respect to the President.

    “I have been elected but I have not taken the oath of office. That will be taking place on January 7. But in the meantime, I have come to introduce myself to President Buhari so that we begin to know each other.

    “The relationship between our two countries is so important for our countries, West Africa and Africa. I think those of us who are in positions of leadership need to know each other and have an understanding and address the main concerns of our populations.

    “I had the opportunity to say a belated happy birthday to the President. His birthday is an important day in my life because that day is my late mother’s birthday.

    “We had a very good exchange. We are determined to grow the relationship between our two countries.”

     

  • Ghana: Mahama calls to congratulate Akufo-Addo

    Ghana: Mahama calls to congratulate Akufo-Addo

    Ahead of the official announcement of the result of the Ghana presidential election, incumbent President John Mahama has called to congratulate his leading opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.
    Akufo-Addo in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @NAkufo-Addo disclosed the call by Mahama.
    ” A few minutes ago, I received a call from President @JDMahama congratulating me on winning the 2016 Presidential Election. #ChangeHasCome,” Akufo-Addo stated.

  • Ghana Polls: Opposition calls on president to concede defeat

    Ghana Polls: Opposition calls on president to concede defeat

    Ghana’s main opposition party on Thursday said it had a strong lead in elections and called on President John Mahama to concede defeat,comments which had been dismissed as “treasonable” by the incumbent’s campaign team.

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) said its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, had won 52 per cent of the vote according to its own tally of Wednesday’s presidential poll, against 44.8 per cent for Mahama.

    The Electoral Commission said it had not certified any results in the closely fought race to lead the West African nation that has seen a series of peaceful transfers of power.

    However, figures shown by television and radio stations showed the opposition making gains in both races.

    “These are results that were declared at the polling stations. I am calling on the president to concede defeat,’’ NPP campaign chief Peter Mac Manu said.

    A senior official of the ruling party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, countered that Mahama was “comfortably ahead” and asked his supporters to remain calm.

    “The results are still trickling in and the call and declaration by the NPP are irresponsible and treasonable because it can throw this country into chaos,’’ he added.

    Ghana is one of Africa’s most stable democracies and voters have rejected the government of the day twice since 2000.

    Until 2014, the country also had one of Africa’s most dynamic economies, though growth has slowed in part due to a fall in the price of its commodity exports.

  • Ghana Polls: Contestants seek electorates’ vote

    Ghana Polls: Contestants seek electorates’ vote

    Ghanaians started lining up at voting stations on Wednesday to elect a president and parliament, in polls dominated by a three-year economic downturn that led to heavy job losses and price hikes.

    President John Mahama is running for a second four-year term in the West African nation rich in gold, cocoa, diamonds, aluminium, bauxite and recently discovered oil.

    Mahama is competing with six other candidates for the presidency, but his fiercest rival is Nana Akufo-Addo, the leader of the largest opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Reports say the incumbent president remains popular in the nation of 26 million people, which was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence in colonial Africa, in 1957.

    The 58-year-old made major progress in improving Ghana’s infrastructure by building schools, health facilities and roads.

    However, many voters held Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) responsible for a debilitating three-year energy crisis that led to a 10 percent drop in economic growth between 2011 and 2015.

    They also held him responsible for the sharp rise in electricity, water and petrol prices.

    Akufo-Addo, 72, promises to use Ghana’s new-found oil to create jobs and push industrialisation in all economic sectors, including agriculture.

    Over 15 million Ghanaians are eligible to cast their vote at one of the 29,000 polling stations until 1700 GMT.

    They will also elect 275 parliamentarians for the next four years.

    If no presidential candidate gains 51 percent or more of the vote, the election will go into a second round.

    Results are expected within 72 hours after voting ends.

  • Ghana parliament rejects change to election date

    Ghana parliament rejects change to election date

    Reports from Accra on Friday reveal that the Ghana’s parliament failed on Thursday evening to secure the two-third majority needed to change the presidential election date from Dec. 7 to Nov. 7.

    An unnamed source in parliament said that the Electoral Commission wanted to bring the vote forward to allow for a second round to be held if necessary and still have time for a smooth transition before January 7, when a new government must be sworn in.

    The source said that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) voted against the measure, arguing it would reduce the time available to the commission to organise the election.

    Meanwhile, Mike Oquaye, the Legal Secretary National Democratic Congress (NDC), said that the idea for a Nov. 7 election is good and many politicians had worked hard on it.

    The ruling National Democratic Congress and the opposition are competing for advantage ahead of what is expected to be a tight election between President John Mahama, who is running for a second term, and opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Ghana’s 2008 election went to a run-off and the NPP challenged Mahama’s victory in the 2012 election, leading to a protracted case before the Supreme Court.

    The case reinforced Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

  • Ghana’s opposition party picks Akufo-Addo for 2016

    Ghana’s opposition party picks Akufo-Addo for 2016

    Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to retain Nana Akufo-Addo as its leader for the 2016 election, setting up a rematch of the last poll when he lost narrowly to President John Mahama.

    The election is also expected to be close given that the ruling National Democratic Congress government has faced economic headwinds including rising inflation, a stubborn budget deficit and a currency that has fallen sharply this year, Reuters reports.

    “We must rid our country through the peace of the ballot box of the incompetent NDC government of John Mahama and relieve the Ghanaian people of the unjustifiable hardships and difficulties they are encountering,” Akufo-Addo told a party rally in Accra.

    “We are then to form a government for Ghana where we will reverse the decline of our nation,” he said.

    Ghana is considered a model of African democracy because of its peaceful elections, regular changes of power and respect for the rule of law. The West African state has also seen years of strong economic growth from its exports of gold, cocoa and oil.

    The government said this week it is close to a deal with the International Monetary Fund for a financial assistance programme to start in January that would help stabilise the economy and facilitate wider economic transformation.

    Some analysts say a Fund programme could help rebalance the economy in 2015 and enable the government to reassure voters come election time.

    Akufo-Addo, 70, secured on Saturday more than 96 percent of 126,000 votes cast, witnesses said.

    He ran for president in 2008 but lost to the NDC’s John Atta Mills.

    Atta Mills died unexpectedly in July 2012 and was succeeded by his vice president Mahama, who is likely to stand at the next election for a second and final term.

  • I didn’t rig presidential poll – Ghana’s president

    I didn’t rig presidential poll – Ghana’s president

    Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has said that he did not rig the 2012 presidential election in the country as alleged by the opposition parties.

    A statement from the Ghanaian presidency quoted Mahama as saying this when he spoke to the BBC on Wednesday during his three-day official visit to France.

    He said the challenge against his legitimacy as president currently before the Supreme Court was not a source of distraction to his poise to ensure good governance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nana Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of Ghana’s major opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) is challenging Mahama’s victory in the court.

    The NPP is alleging irregularities and massive rigging during the general election that brought in Mahama as president.

    The statement further quoted the president as expressing huge trust in the ability of the Supreme Court to deliver sincere judgement in the matter.

    “I am not perturbed at all, it is also not impacting negatively on governance. I will not be here for a working visit if I am worried over it,’’ he said.