Nana Akufo-Addo: Building a Strong Ghana.
Our country Ghana, stands in need of a new leader, who is a true servant of the people, to propel her growth and development to economic prosperity based on respect for the will of the people. The sustenance of Ghana’s democracy and attainment of its possibilities depend on the involvement of all capable men of goodwill. At this point in time of Ghana’s history, all citizens must ensure the emergence of a credible and focused leadership at the national level that will actualise the Ghanaian dream of affordable housing for all, access to basic social services, qualitative education, job creation especially for the youth, create the spirit of enterprise, and a functional economy. I strongly believe that, Nana Akufo-Addo fits the bill as the right and best leader to lead Ghana in 2009
and beyond based on his experience, competence, intellect, vision, excellent
managerial skills, good leadership qualities and a history of service to Ghana. I
am supporting a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency because, he has over the years
worked tirelessly for the progress of this great nation of ours.
As I listened raptly to Nana Akufo-Addo’s evening encounter speech at the Alisa
Hotel organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (Ghana) on his programme
of action if elected President of Ghana, he struck me as a man with an air of
believability around him. Convincing, compelling, consummately passionate and
well grounded on topical issues, he has a contagious mien. Nana Akufo-Addo
means different things to different people. He is a man people love to hate and
hate to love. Either way, he just cannot be ignored. As one of the most
recognizable faces in the media and Ghana today, he is a leading light in the
fields of the legal profession, private sector, passionate advocate of human rights
and social justice nationally and internationally. Our frontline presidential candidate
also has tentacles in several high value-yielding enterprises in Ghana providing
valuable employment to hundreds of Ghanaians.
A visionary, competent, committed, credible, capable, versatile, charismatic, savvy,
suave, excellence exemplifying, captivating, inspirational, down to earth and
likeable lawyer, politician, entrepreneur, activist, leader, empowerment speaker and
resource person, is how Nana Akufo-Addo has been described in various fora. He is
deeply passionate about giving Ghana its long neglected place of pride in the comity
of nations. A true nationalist, he is an issue-driven grassroots politician, with a
patriotic zeal to move the nation forward in all ramifications. Nana Akufo-Addo has a
clear understanding of the complex and vexing challenges facing Ghana and has
outlined a clear and practical programme of rapid infrastructural and manpower
development to tackle them as such. His simplicity, sincerity, and downright
forthrightness have won him the hearts of many Ghanaians who see him as one
leader they can trust. An overview of the vast experience Nana Akufo-Addo has
garnered over thirty years at the top level in both the public and private sector, are
reasons to believe that he is all that is needed to make the desired change in our
dear nation. He is a viable alternative to the throng of politicians gunning for a short
at the Castle.
Nana Akufo-Addo when elected President of Ghana, will lead a people-centred
government which will invariably lead to long-term and widespread improvement in
the human condition of the people. He has continually, verbally articulated his vision
which demonstrates originality and personal commitment to the vision outlined which
assures the voters that the outlined vision is not simply a borrowed one unlike
others. As an experience team player, he acknowledges the fact that, these huge
responsibilities of governance cannot be carried out alone but, must be in concert
with others hence, his intention to work collectively with the legislature, judiciary,
civil society organisations, private sector, and academia to find lasting solutions to
Ghana’s developmental challenges. Nana Akufo-Addo brings to the table credible
leadership based on integrity, character, commitment, compassion, courage and
conviction to serve the interest of the Ghanaian people. The vision of Nana Addo is
to build and sustain a nation with a vibrant economy designed to serve the people’s
interest in which good governance and transparent institutions combine to create a
free and democratic society that guarantees opportunity for all citizens. He is by far
the best presidential candidate who can fast track development in every sector of
our national life. Ghana needs a knowledgeable and selfless leader such as Nana
Akufo-Addo to build on the enormous gains chalked thus far and take it to another
level for the benefit of all Ghanaians. Nana Akufo-Addo would be a good President
for Ghana.
He will be in a good position to sustain the achievements of President Kufour’s
administration. We must ensure continuity in policies. Investors do not want a policy
shift and somersault. Any policy somersault can scare away investors. It is my
fervent believe that, his attributes of prudence, probity, accountability, transparency,
and genuine love for the people of Ghana gives him the edge over his competitors. I
have no doubt that, Nana Akufo-Addo’s background and rich experience have more
than prepared him for the task ahead. Given our situation in Ghana today, Nana
Akufo-Addo’s integrity, astuteness, decisiveness and yet humble and accommodating
personality will be crucial in resolving many of Ghana’s economic challenges. With his
energy and drive, I firmly believe that his avowed position on the respect of the rule
of law, freedom of expression and the rights of Ghanaians will work to further
entrench our strength in diversity. He offers a sustained leadership pattern that is
guided by longing to serve his fellow countrymen. Under his watch, he will offer a
leadership style which is “other-centred and not self-centred”. What stands him out
from the crowd is that, he is not only talking about the problems, he is infact coming
up with ideas on how to solve them. Instead of repeating the usual Ghanaian
political mantra “I will fix education, healthcare and provide employment”, he is one
candidate who is actually laying out an agenda and the ways and means to
transform rhetoric into reality.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s entrepreneurial acumen is proof that, unlike many a Ghanaian
politician, this legal luminary turned politician will not be a drain on the nation’s
treasury. On education, hear Nana Akufo-Addo, “our children must receive
functional education that will enable them achieve their full potentials. Human
capital development is a promise we must keep”. I don’t know about you but, as for
me, Nana Akufo-Addo is one candidate that understands the stakes. No one is
promising El Dorado here, but I can assure you this, if you support Nana Akufo-Addo
for presidency, you will have a listening ear in the Castle. He is one person who will
respect the constitution and will work diligently for the Ghanaian people. No one is
feigning naivety here, no one is saying the task to take back our country will be an
easy one but, I am surely saying with your support, it is absolutely possible. On
national security, the focus is equally two fold, decentralizing the police force with
greater regional, district and local participation while simultaneously increasing the
number of police officers. A decentralized, retrained, better led, well paid and
motivated police force will be what is required to address issues of law and order.
Nana Akufo-Addo would transform Ghana through his seven Cs- commitment,
competence, character, creativity, cooperation, courage and conviction to engender
the needed economic transformation of the nation. No nation would attain any
meaningful development if it lacked such variables as good leadership which Nana
Akufo-Addo offers with ease, quality human capital and effective institutions. He will
fight corruption which will be done through personal example. The easiest way is to
lead by such immaculate, transparent personal example that nobody will have the
incentive to try it differently. Institutions such as CHRAJ and SFO etc will receive
increased funding to enable such institutions function more effectively and with more
transparency so that Ghanaians will see justice being done. A good leader as
he is, Nana Akufo-Addo will be transparent, and put in place institutions that will
ensure vertical accountability in such a way that people can hold him accountable on
a continued basis, develop systems and processes where indices of performance will
be available to the ordinary people. He will ensure that, Parliament enacts the
Freedom of Information Bill immediately which will give individual Ghanaians (not
just journalists only) the right to demand for files to be made available to see that
the interest of the Ghanaian people is taken into account.
Under a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency, there will be cooperation between his
government and Ghanaians in the diaspora. He will do this not only in terms of
professionals hired but rather, do this in terms of creating industrial parks across
Ghana in which the conditions will be attractive to enable Ghanaians in the diaspora
to mobilise their networks and make investments with all the enablers for them to
make a major transformation of the Ghanaian economic environment. Without
putting pressure on anyone to jump on the next plane and come to Ghana, he will
create a system where Ghanaians in the diaspora will see mutual benefits in the
transition. The continuation of NPP in government under Nana Akufo-Addo starts
with you and me, when we recognize that, he is fit for public office, ready and
willing to live out a new philosophy of accountability, incorruptibility, excellence,
integrity, good governance, nationalism, vision, credibility, competence, diligence,
positivism, social responsibility, youth and women empowerment as well as a track
record of public service. No candidate in the current political spectrum best
exemplifies these worthy attributes than NANA AKUFO-ADDO. He is one of the faces
of a re-birthed Ghana- one that can hold her head high in the international arena.
I am appealing to all Ghanaians to appreciate the competence of Nana Akufo-Addo
and for them to give him their votes and with God on our side, we will collectively be
able to move this country to the desired level. The mobilization of progressive forces is already on and no force on earth can stand against an idea whose time has come: a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency.
NANA YAW OSSEI
LONDON, UK.
Email: [email protected]