President Akufo-Addo has spoken highly of Ghanaians and their determination to always chalk some achievements.
In an acceptance speech after receiving the Africa-America Institute’s (AAI’s) ‘National Achievement Award’ on behalf of the people of Ghana at a ceremony at the New York Public Library, he noted that in the course of Ghana’s long, tortuous history, it had emerged that “the spirit of the Ghanaian, in his or her quest for peace, progress and prosperity, cannot be quenched.”
That, he said, was because “we are a determined lot, who cannot be deterred.”
The award recognises Ghana’s status as a free, democratic and stable country in Africa, and the contributions of successive generations of Ghanaian patriots who had played invaluable roles in establishing the free, sovereign and democratic nation.
He therefore took pride in the fact that “today, after quite some time, we are recognised as a beacon of democracy and stability on the African continent.”
Apart from that, he said, “we are a country governed by the principles of democratic accountability, respect for individual liberties, human rights and the rule of law – an aspiring modern nation.”
It is for this reason that he indicated that in the aftermath of the disputed elections of 2012, “we demonstrated clearly that it was not the ambitions of Akufo-Addo or the fortunes of the New Patriotic Party that we sought to promote.”
According to him, “The stability and progress of Ghana, and the enhancement of her democracy were the paramount considerations that guided our every action in those difficult days.”
Ghana’s Future
“It is time to make sure that we have a genuine separation of powers among the various arms of government. Our parliament – the legislative arm of government – must grow into its proper role as effective machinery for accountability and oversight of the Executive. Our Judiciary must inspire confidence in the citizens, so we can all see the courts as the ultimate, impartial arbiters when disputes arise, as they would,” he stressed.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that Ghana must decentralise more, and devolve more power with corresponding resources to the base of her political system and to her people in the regions and the communities.
“We must trust the individual and collective wisdom and good sense of our people. We must create wealth and restore happiness to our nation. We can only do this when we have a powerful private sector, with a strong sense of enterprise, innovation and creativity, and an educated and skilled population that is capable of competing in the global economy,” President Akufo-Addo added.
He said his government was committed to making basic education – from kindergarten through primary school to junior high school to senior high school – free in all the country’s public schools, to guarantee access to quality basic education to all of Ghana’s children, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth.
President Akufo-Addo averred, “In doing so, we must expand our horizons and embrace science and technology as critical tools for our development. We want to create a society of opportunities and incentives. We have to build a confident Ghana which is united, at peace with itself and takes pride in its diversity, and which continues to pursue its pan-African vocation.”
Tribute
The president paid tribute to Ghanaians who made the award possible.
They included members of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the great nationalists who gathered at Saltpond to inaugurate the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and leading members of the government of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
He also recognized the efforts and contributions of others who are not listed among the frontrunners in the struggle which led to the attainment of the country’s independence, but helped in diverse ways.
Notable among them were Philip Gbeho, Ephraim Amu, Theodosia Okoh, Amon Kotei, Kofi Antubam, Ayi Kwei Armah, Ama Ata Aidoo, Esther Ocloo, Dede Asikisham and Akua Shorshorshor.
He did not leave out his predecessors.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent