I did not come to deceive anyone – Akufo-Addo

General News of Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-07-09

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said his administration was on track to fulfill many promises made to Ghanaians in the run-up to the 2016 elections.

Addressing members of the Ghanaian community residing in France on Monday, July 8 as part of his official visit to that country, he said that during the last two and a half years of his term, his government had made a considerable number of the promises made.

"We have had two-and-a-half years in office for four years and I continue to insist that Ghanaians, by the end of my term, will see that I have come to tell them the truth about what I wanted to do. I did not come to deceive anyone, "said the president.

He continued, "I know my opponents will say something else, but that's their right. God willing, December 7, 2020, day of responsibility, we will know who is telling the truth.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the following comments in response to the announcement made by the African Union Conference of Heads of State and Government that Ghana has been chosen to host the secretariat. Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Describing AfCFTA as "one of the most important things that the AU has done," the president explained that Ghanaians residing in France for some time may appreciate the importance of what was accomplished at the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the AU, held in Niamey, capital of Niger, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

"Some gray beards may perhaps remember, 30 years ago, the beginning of the common market, the situation in France and the current situation … The mbadive impact of the European Union on life there is no doubt. European citizens, in terms of increasing their economic situation, and we believe that the continental African free trade zone will do the same for us, "he explained.

Nana Akufo-Addo was convinced that AfCFTA "will give us the opportunity to actively involve the 1.2 billion inhabitants of our continent in the development of our continent. We must find a way to develop our continent ourselves. We can not continue to depend on foreigners to develop our continent for us. "

The AfCFTA, he noted, will dramatically increase intra-African trade, create millions of jobs for young Africans and help the continent develop its businesses.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the establishment of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana is a great opportunity for the country, especially as Ghana is at the center of Pan-African issues.

"This will mean that all of AfCFTA's ancillary activities will focus on Accra and Ghana. It is also an acknowledgment of the contribution we have made to the fight against pan-Africanism and the decolonization of the continent, "he added.

President Akufo-Addo also paid tribute to the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, who for the first time introduced the motion to create a Continental Free Trade Area in 2011.

"Every country should have its goals and policies that it follows successfully, leader after leader. When national goals are set, all of us in office should be forced to follow, "said the president.