Robert P. Jackson
United States of America Ambassador to Ghana Robert P. Jackson says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is ahead of recent leaders that have emerged in the country when it comes to visionary leadership.
He said the President’s determination to transform the country’s economy through the private sector makes him exceptional.
The US envoy, in an exclusive interview with Ghanaweb, a popular online portal, acknowledged the role former President John Dramani Mahama played in the infrastructural development of the country but insisted that President Akufo-Addo’s focus on revamping the private sector for economic growth would be the game changer.
He said Akufo-Addo ‘private sector-led’ growth agenda is more likely to grow the economy and create better opportunities for Ghanaians compared to infrastructure investments.
“I don’t think it is about Akufo-Addo changing everything all of a sudden. I do think that he is more visionary than some recent Ghanaian leaders,” the Ambassador said.
“I think ex-President Mahama had a vision too so I want to give him credit where credit is due, his emphasis was on infrastructure, which is very important- schools, clinics, hospitals, roads- President Mahama did a lot for this country,” he added.
He said, “President Akufo-Addo’s focus on the private sector and making the private sector the engine of growth rather than government being the driving force is how I see the difference between the two of them,” adding “others had visions for the country, but I think President Akufo-Addo’s vision of private sector-led growth is likely to create more jobs and propel the economy forward faster than the infrastructure investments but the infrastructure investments were important.”
1-D-1-F
The envoy said that the NPP government’s much-touted One District, One Factory would help resolve the country’s unemployment issues.
He said it would help the youth in particular to find jobs and reduce the problem of immigration, which has become a global headache.
“President Akufo-Addo’s vision of 1-D-1-F may not be realized in his first term or even his second, if there is one, but the idea is exactly what is needed to get beyond aid. That you have to industrialise; that you build your industrial base, that you create jobs so that people do not want to trek across the desert and be potentially enslaved in Libya or even if they make it to Libya drown in the Mediterranean, we need to change the dialogue so that people do not see it as their only alternative, we need to make Ghana attractive for young people to stay here and see that they can be entrepreneurs, that they can have a real bright future here,” the Ambassador said.
Gay Rights
The Ambassador, who rekindled the debate on homosexuals and lesbians rights, said “I believe that everyone should enjoy the same human rights and personally I believe that people are either born heterosexual or homosexual. It’s not a lifestyle choice.”
The Ambassador said, “I think there are far more gays in Ghana than Ghanaians realize but because of societal attitudes they keep their sexuality very private.”
The Ambassador, however, added that his comments on homosexuals and lesbians do not in any way suggest that the United States is forcing any particular country to legalize homosexuality.
“The United States is not asking anyone to change their religious beliefs or legalize homosexuality. We are asking that all people be treated the same – that they have the same human rights and the right to privacy,” he said.
By William Yaw Owusu