Former President John Agyekum Kufuor (Letf) with President Akufo-Addo
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has showered praises on President Akufo-Addo for working tirelessly to bring ‘renaissance’ to Ghana’s once weak economy.
He observed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration inherited an economy which was virtually on its knees after poor economic management by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for eight years.
Mr. Kufuor stated that President Akufo-Addo and his team of economic management team had surprised many in the country by changing the face of Ghana’s economy within just 18 months.
“The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government has chalked significant economic progress and successes after they assumed the mantle of leadership of this country just within 18 months, and it is amazing.
“The NPP administration is rapidly implementing pragmatic economic programmes and policies that would place the country on the track of future prosperity and massive economic transformation,” he said.
According to him, he’s not surprised that President Akufo-Addo has been invited to several countries across the globe within his first 18 months in political office, indicating that the Ghanaian leader is on the right track.
Ex-President Kufuor said countries usually consult President Akufo-Addo about how he had changed the face of Ghana’s economy within a short time.
He disclosed this while addressing NPP delegates during the party’s Annual National Delegates’ Conference, which was under the theme, ‘NPP Building a Stronger Party-Delivering Prosperity to Ghanaians in Koforidua on Saturday.
Mr. Kufuor said that the country usually experience massive transformation and good governance whenever the NPP steers the affairs of the country.
According to him, ensuring good governance and massive economic transformation whilst in political office is in the blood of the NPP, noting that the NPP is the best political party to manage the affairs of the state.
Mr. Kufuor said J.B Dankwa, Dombo and Dr. Abrefa Busia, three prominent leaders, whose sacrifices and efforts led to the formation of the NPP tradition, always believed in good governance and economic transformation.
He, therefore, reminded the current NPP administration to continually uphold good governance and also pursue economic transformation for the masses to enjoy, adding that these two tenets should always walk together.
“The party can only ensure good governance and economic transformation if it’s united from the bottom to the top and openly embraces peace,” said the former president, who served for two terms.
The ex-Ghanaian leader also entreated the NPP administration not to allow political power to sway them, adding, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely so the government should be mindful of that.”
He warned that if the government doesn’t take care, political power could make them feel complacent and corrupt which may affect the eventual delivery of the government which nobody in the party desires.
Mr. Kufuor pointed out that the four-year tenure for political parties in the country to govern is woefully inadequate, saying “The four-year tenure in government is too short. You cannot change the world in four years.”
In this regard, he stressed the need for the NPP family to always unite and work closely together as one family with a common destiny to stay in political power and develop the country for many years.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr, Daniel Bampoe & Nii Adjei Mensahfio, Koforidua