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This was the case of H. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was born on March 29, 1944; and grew up in Accra at his father's, who was actually the seat of the country's first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), after his training in Saltpond on August 4, 1947. The maternal grandfather of Akufo-Addo, Nana Sir Ofori Atta, King of AkyemAbuakwa was a member of the executive council of the governor of the Gold Coast prior to the independence of Ghana. Three of the "Big Six", the founding fathers of Ghana, were also his blood relatives: Joseph Boakye Danquah was his great-uncle, William Ofori-Atta was his uncle and Edward Akufo-Addo (the third chief justice of Ghana and more later President of the Republic from 1969 to 1972) was his father.
Akufo-Addo was first educated at the Adabraka Government Boys School and then at Rowe Road School (now Kimbu), both in Central Accra. He has pbaded his O and A-Level exams at Lancing College in Susbad, England. He returned to Ghana in 1962 to teach at the Accra Academy High School, before studying economics at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1964, after obtaining a BSc (Econ) in 1967 He then studied law in the United Kingdom and was called the Middle Temple in July 1971. Akufo-Addo was admitted to the Bar of Ghana in July 1975.
He is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo, daughter of Judge Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph (Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana under the Third Republic). Their daughters are GyankromaFunmi, Yeboakua, Edwina Nana Douka and Adriana Dukua.
The man in the arena
Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States, rightly postulated in his speech: "Citizenship in a republic": "It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who shows how the strong man stumbles or where the perpetrator acts. acts could have done them better. The credit goes to the man in the arena, his face covered with dust, sweat and blood, who fights valiantly … who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who devotes himself to a good cause, who at best knows at last the triumph of the highest achievement, and which, at worst, if it fails, fails at least while daring much, so that its place is never with those cold, timid souls who have never known either victory or defeat. "
President Akufo-Addo began his political career in his early thirties as General Secretary of the Popular Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), composed of political figures such as Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, William Ofori-Atta, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Albert. Adu Boahen, Sam Okudzeto, Obed Asamoah, Godfrey Agama, KSP Jantuah, Ofori-Atta Jones, Johnny Hanson and Nii AmaahAmartefio ("Mr. No"). This group spearheaded the "NO" campaign of the 1978 UNIGOV referendum, designed to solicit the popular support of a single-party state led by the military. The "No" campaign finally resulted in the fall of the Acheampong military government on July 5, 1978, and the re-establishment of the multi-party democratic regime in the country in 1979. Akufo-Addo had to briefly ban after the referendum, while his life was in danger. But from Europe he could be heard constantly at the BBC World Service, vigorously criticizing Ghana's military leaders and demanding a return to democracy.
He is recognized as one of the leaders of the movement for democracy in Ghana. In 1991, Akufo-Addo was chairman of the organizing committee of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club, a club dedicated to preserving the memory and ideals of the two great advocates of Ghanaian democracy, JB Danquah and KA Busia, Premier Minister of the United Kingdom. the Progress Party government of the 2nd Republic of Ghana. Akufo-Addo traveled across Ghana to create club branches throughout the country, in the popular style that characterizes him.
These branches were eventually transformed into local bodies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) before the 1992 elections, which announced the reintroduction of democratic governance under the Fourth Republic. In 1992, he was the first national organizer of the NPP and later that year, campaign director of the party's first presidential candidate, Professor Albert Adu Boahen, the man of courage who broke the 'culture of silence "in Ghana and played such a role. a crucial role in the reintroduction of democracy.
In 1992, Akufo-Addo created and financed the newspaper "The Statesman", which was to become the unofficial spokesperson for the nuclear power station. He was the first president of DHL (GH) Ltd; President of Kinesec Communications (Co) Ltd, editors of The Statesman; and the first chair of the Ghana Human Rights Committee. He was also responsible, through his badociation with the American company Millicom, for the introduction of mobile telephony in the country.
Yes, he is well man in the arena !!
KumePreko
In 1995, President Akufo-Addo led the famous "KumePreko" protests of the Alliance for Change (AFC), a broad-based political lobby group that mobilized hundreds of people on the streets of Ghana to protest the harsh economic conditions of Rawlings. The protest was held in opposition to the Value Added Tax (VAT) initiative introduced under the Jerry John Rawlings administration. It has been said that it was one of the largest events ever held in the country, with about 100,000 people participating. Some experts in Ghana believe this has been instrumental in restoring the NPP to a more formidable force after Professor Adu Boahen. The protest was initially portrayed as a peaceful protest, but it quickly became violent when unidentified badailants fired live bullets into the crowd, causing the death of some protesters. And as the tree that stands in the middle of the market, it's never bothered by the noise, the brave Nana Akufo-Addo has always been fighting for his ideals and for what he's always defended.
The lawyer of choice (a professional par excellence)
President Akufo-Addo is well known for providing free legal badistance to the poor and fought for the rights and freedoms of the people of Ghana. Indeed, many of the important constitutional affairs of the modern era, which notably protected the independence of the judiciary, the right of the citizen to demonstrate without the authorization of the police and the right of all political parties 39; access to equality. owned media, were undertaken by him. He has served on the boards and committees of many political, legal, business and social organizations in the country. According to the legal practice, Akufo-Addo stays in France for five years as a lawyer with the late international based in New York. Coudert Brothers law firm. In addition to the positive exposure to the dynamics of international business transactions, his stay in France allowed him to speak fluent French. In 1975, he returned home to Accra to pursue his legal career.
He joined UV Campbell's law firms from 1975 to 1979. In 1979, he co-founded the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. law firm, which became one of the largest law firms in the world. lawyers in Ghana, if not the best. Some Ghanaian lawyers who have gone through his cabinet are among the most prominent lawyers of the Ghanaian Bar today. They include the current Chief Justice of the Republic, Her Ladyship Sophia Akuffo; L & # 39; Hon. Gloria Akuffo (Attorney General and Minister of Justice); Joyce Darko; Daniel AfariYeboah; Philip Addison; L & # 39; Hon. Joe Ghartey, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and current Minister of Railway Development; Alex Quaynor; Frank Davies; Kweku Paintsil; L & # 39; Hon. Ursula OwusuEkufful (Minister of Communications; Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, successor of Akufo-Addo as MP for the Abuakwa South constituency and Minister of Public Works and Housing; Akoto Ampaw; Yoni Kulendi, Kwame Akuffo, Kwaku Asirifi, and the Honorable Godfred Dame (Attorney General) and Minister of Justice) Like the "Gold Coast Dean," JB Danquah, and others before him, Akufo -Addo has used its legal practice to defend the cause of human rights, the rule of law, justice, freedom and democracy. And as Attorney General, he was responsible for the repeal of the criminal libel law.
Abuakwa South Calling
Akufo-Addo has never yielded to services rendered to his people. He was elected three times between 1996 and 2008 as a member of the constituency of Abuakwa South, in the eastern region of Ghana. A post that he had always offered to his people with diligent services.
The time of Kuffour
The light that they say can not be hidden in the darkness. Despite the objection of HE John Agyekum Kuffour at the 1998 NPP primaries, Nana Akufo-Addo was the main activist of the then-candidate Kufuor in the 2000 election and became cabinet minister at the time of the election. Kuffour era. From 2001 to 2007, first as Attorney General and Minister of Justice for two years, then as Foreign Minister for five years, Akufo-Addo served with distinction in the government of President John Kufuor. As Attorney General, he was responsible for the repeal of the Criminal Defamation Act, which had until then been used to intimidate the media and criminalize freedom of expression. This repeal has allowed the Ghanaian media to become one of the most vibrant and free of Africa. Under his chairmanship of the Legal Sector Reform Committee, the implementation of the court automation program was launched.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he has participated fully in the successful peace efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. Ivory and Guinea-Bissau, and was President of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in 2003. In 2004, Ghana was elected among the 15 pioneering members of the African Union Peace and Security Council. (UA), reappointed at the AU Summit held in Khartoum, Sudan in January 2006. H. Nana Akufo-Addo was chosen by her peers from the AU Executive Council to chair the ministerial committee of the 15 who developed the consensus of Ezulwini, which defines the common position of the African Union on the reforms of the UN. He negotiated the organization of the African Union Summit 2007 in Accra as part of Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations and chaired the African Union Executive Council in 2007. His colleagues elected Ghana, who will occupy the non-permanent seat of West Africa at the UN Security Council. 2006-07. In addition, in August 2006, Akufo-Addo chaired the meeting of the Security Council which took the decision that ended Israel's mbadive incursions into Lebanon. Again, Ghana was elected to the new United Nations body, the Human Rights Council, with the highest number of votes (183 out of 191) among all countries and as a member pioneer of another UN body, the Peacebuilding Commission.
The perseverance of a man who answers the call to serve his nation and the "battle of the pink leaf"
Akufo-Addo resigned from the Kufuor government in July 2007 to run as a candidate for the presidency of his party, the NPP, in the 2008 elections. In competition against 16 others, he won 48% of the vote in the first round. of this election, but was unanimously approved in the second round, making him the candidate for the party presidency.
During the presidential race of December 7, 2008, he obtained in the first round more votes than John Atta Mills, the final winner. In the first round, Akufo-Addo won 4,159,439 votes, or 49.13% of the votes cast, putting him in first place, but not enough for the 50% needed for an absolute victory. It's the best performance ever recorded for a first-ever presidential candidate in the fourth republic. In the second round, Mills collected 4,521,032 votes, or 50.23%, beating Akufo-Addo by the smallest margin in the political history of Ghana and Africa. Akufo-Addo accepted the results without even asking for a recount, thus helping to preserve the peace, freedom and stability of Ghana.
In the 2012 national elections, Akufo-Addo again challenged the candidate's candidacy for the NDC, the successor of the late Mills, JohnDramaniMahama, and lost. This election sparked considerable controversy and was finally decided by the Supreme Court in a narrow decision of 5/4 in favor of H. E. John Mahama in what I call the battle of the "Pink Leaves". Akufo-Addo is recognized for helping to preserve the peace of the country that he so loves by his attitude of a statesman who had allowed him to accept the unfavorable verdict of the Court, while the country was under severe stress. He and his co-petitioners (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake OtankaObetsebi-Lamptey of Blessed Memory) could have rallied their supporters to express their dissatisfaction, especially how close the verdict was. But Akufo-Addo, a lover of peace, chose to graciously accept the verdict despite his disagreement. In his own words: "…… As I said earlier, although I disagree with the decision of the Court, I accept it. I agree that what the Court says puts an end to the electoral dispute. We will not ask for a review of the verdict so that we can all move forward in the interests of our country. Everything in my bones, in my education and in what I have done in my life so far, it is imperative that I accept a decision made by the highest court of the country, even if I do not like or does not agree with her. I am saddened by the verdict and I know that many of our supporters are also saddened. However, for the love and love of our country, we must embark on a path that builds, rather than destroys, to deal with our disappointment. I call on all members and sympathizers of our party, the NPP in particular, to accept the verdict of the court. Even in our disappointment, we can be proud of how we behave. Even if we are disappointed, we can be proud that the NPP has opened the door by deepening Ghana's democracy.
In March 2014, Akufo-Addo again announced its decision to seek his party's candidacy for the third time before the 2016 elections. He obtained an unprecedented and unprecedented victory of 94.35% of the primary vote. presidential election in October 2014, in a competition of seven competitors. Akufo-Addo also took a leave to chair the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the South African elections in 2014, building on his reputation as a former foreign minister.
Hall of Fame Induction (A dream come true)
After two unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was sworn in as the 5th President of the Republic of Ghana under the 4th Republic on January 7, 2017 after winning the 2016 general election with a very large surplus margin . 1 million votes. It was indeed the first time that an incumbent president was being beaten by an opposition candidate in Ghana's history. Its inauguration took place at Black Star Square in Accra. Twelve presidents from African and European countries attended the ceremony. Among them were Edgar Lungu (Zambia), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Ernest Bai Koroma (Sierra Leone), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria). Indeed, it was a day of good memories and mixed feelings. We were here with a man who had pbaded to call the most defamed leader of the 4th republic. A man that his opponents have suggested could never be president of Ghana. But as in the biblical parable, what God put together, no man can curse; H. E. Akufo-Addo challenged all the difficulties to realize his dream. It was a dream finally realized.
The generational thinker
The Chinese could not have said it better by saying, "If you plan for a year, sow rice; if you plan for a decade, plant trees; If you plan your whole life, educate people. "H. E. Nana Addo Akufo-Addo's Akufo-Addo name will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for Africa for the successful implementation of the FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SHS) policy despite challenges. Indeed, when a determined hunter goes on an elephant hunt, he does not stop to give the rabbits stones to the skin. The implementation of FREE SHS makes President Akufo-Addo a generational thinker. He does not think of himself but of the future of future generations. Posterity will be the judge of how a man could be so disinterested in his service to a people and a nation.
H. E. Nana Addo is also to be congratulated on the creation of the Zongo Development Fund, which aims to fill the development gap in our city centers. The digitization of our economy to increase productivity through the ease of doing business, establishing three development authorities (North, Middle Belt and Coastal), establishing a special prosecutor's office to specifically address corruption, construction of business, and the establishment factories and warehouses in each district towards the industrialization and modernization of agriculture, in the face of the destructive threat of Galamsey, the creation of six new regions to ensure a fair distribution of the wealth of our country.
Once again, Henry VII was right when he said, "To speak is not to do, it is a good thing to say well, and yet words are not acts." H. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo went beyond the usual rhetoric to decisively attack the dispute over the Dagbon chieftaincy. In my opinion, President Nana Akufo-Addo "ABUDANI I" deserves a world peace prize for her exemplary leadership in the permanent resolution of the long-running debacle of the Dagbon chieftaincy. According to the people of Dagbon, the president's contribution to the successful implementation of the latest roadmap peace restoration in the traditional Dagbon area is unprecedented. This act and the successful implementation of FREE SHS alone will make President Akufo-Addo the best president in the history of Ghana.
Conclusion
When a nation yearned for an industrious leader to save his people, H. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo responded to the call. It's exactly that special day that you were born 75 years ago. It's been 75 years serving humanity and your country. 75 years of blessings to the world. I pray the good Lord to continue to bless you with more prosperous years to continue the good works; for kola nuts, they say last longer in the mouth of those who value it Happy 75th birthday to you sir !!!
AssalaamuAlaikum !!!
The battle is still that of the Lord …… !!!
By: Prince Anuwar-Sadat Amadu
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile: (0244456674)
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