President Akufo-Addo after receiving the award from Congresswoman Karen Bass in Washington DC on friday
President Akufo-Addo’s exemplary leadership attracted the attention of the United States Congress as he received commendation on the floor of the House.
A Congressional Record of the US’ House of Representatives presented to President Akufo-Addo by Karen Bass, Member of Congress Representing the 37th Congressional District of California, showered praises on President Akufo-Addo for his transformational leadership in Ghana and Africa at large.
“Since his election, economic growth has surged from 3.6 percent to 7.9 percent. The World Bank projects an additional increase of 8.3 percent in 2018, making Ghana one of the fastest-growing economies. At the same time, Ghana’s budget deficit as a proportion of GDP has been slashed from 9.3 percent to 5.6 percent, even as the government has cut taxes, that would become an international cultural landmark,” the statement indicated.
The president also received the Exemplary Leadership Award for his pioneering leadership and inspiration to the world from the Whitaker Group – an entity that had spearheaded investment drive for Ghana under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, bringing in some American businesses.
This came to light on Friday at a gala dinner organized by the Whitaker Group in Washington DC to commemorate its 15 years’ anniversary under the theme, “A Celebration of Africa: A continent of unlimited possibilities.”
The event drew participants from the US corporate world as well as politicians, and the NGO community from various fields. Some CEOs of leading investment groups in USA lined up to express confidence in the Ghanaian leader in turning the economy round within the shortest possible time.
The Whitaker Group is an investment transaction advisory, founded by Rosa Whitaker, the first ever Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa under the Administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and wife of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams.
Rosa Whitaker said the leadership role of President Akufo-Addo is worth emulating by all, tracing her relationship with the Ghanaian leader to when he was a Foreign Minister in the Kufuor administration.
She noted that owing to the pioneering and visionary leadership of the president, Ghana is today the fastest growing economy.
A citation presented by the Group read in part: “May your administration be a wonder and inspiration to the world. May the horizon of every African man and woman be broadened because of your pioneering leadership.
“May your commitment to education and inclusion be remembered in the annals of history.”
Congressional Honour
Congresswoman Karen Bass, Ranking Democrat Member on Africa Subcommittee, raised the visit of President Akufo-Addo to the United States on the floor of the House, acknowledging his exceptional leadership qualities on the African continent.
A citation on the Congressional Record read: “Ghana tops many lists of Africa’s most peaceful and stable democracies, boasting a uninterrupted series of free and fair elections since 1992 that have seen power change hands between the two major parties three times.
“Freedom House ranks Ghana first on the continent for political and civil liberties; it was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of halving the number of its people in extreme poverty, achieving this milestone well ahead of the 2015 target. The World Bank places Ghana first in its West African sub-region for ease of doing business.
“Underpinned by a rich endowment of oil, gold and cocoa, Ghana’s 43 billion-dollar economy is becoming increasingly diversified. Expansion outside the commodity sector and renewed confidence in the government’s ability to manage its finances are seen by analysts as key driver of the country’s current performance and growing attractiveness as a destination for US and other investors.”
From Fortune Alimi, Washington DC