President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has become the first Ghanaian head of state to provide helicopters for the Ghana Police Service in fulfilment of a promise he made about four years ago to help ensure internal security of the country.
At 66th Independence Day Celebration in Ho in the Volta Region on Monday, the Police Service put up a dazzling show with three of its new helicopters acquired by the Akufo-Addo government.
Addressing participants at the anniversary, which was attended by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and other dignitaries, the President praised the police service and other security agencies for fighting crime and keeping Ghana safe.
The police branded helicopters, which were piloted by police officers trained in South Africa, were part of the service artillery and vehicles displayed at the event to mark Ghana’s liberation from colonial rule 66 years ago.
“I am sure we all saw the three (3) helicopters belonging to the Police Service joining this morning’s celebration.
“It is the first time in our nation’s history that the Police Service is employing the use of helicopters to improve its operational efficiency.
“The acquisition of these helicopters is to honour the pledge I made at the 2019 end of year Police WASSA, and I assure the officers, men and women of the Service of Government’s continued support in helping them to discharge effectively their mandate”, President Akufo-Addo stated.
Current difficulties
The President acknowledged the economic hardships the citizens are currently going through and pledged to ensure these challenges are comprehensively tackled.
“Fellow Ghanaians, I am very much aware of the current difficulties confronting our nation, and we are working hard to resolve them. But, maybe, we should also count our blessings in how, together, we are managing the difficulties.
“We all see the images around the world. Here in Ghana, we have not had any fuel queues, we have not suffered shortages of food and essential items, or the catastrophe of dumsor.
“Undoubtedly, major global developments have had a negative impact on our domestic economic performance. We have witnessed historic highs in global inflation and food prices; rising global interest rates triggered by tightening of monetary policy of central banks across several advanced economies to tame rising inflation; an energy crisis with crude oil prices reaching unprecedented highs, at one point, above one hundred and twenty dollars (US$120) per barrel; the strengthening of the US dollar against all other currencies; the tightening of global financing conditions especially for emerging markets and developing economies; and the largescale disruption of the global supply chain”, President Akufo-Addo pointed out.
These phenomena, he noted, have manifested in Ghana in the form of the depreciation of the country’s currency, the decline in gross international reserves, high inflation, elevated debt burden, significant fiscal stress, constrained domestic and external financing, and reduced GDP growth.
“It is these that have brought hardships upon our people. Government has deployed a number of fiscal interventions to help bring relief to Ghanaians, and, I am confident that, sooner rather than later, we will see significant results of relief and recovery”, he added.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that he will today, in the Chamber of Parliament, deliver a Message on the State of the Nation, where he will delve into much greater detail the entirety of the package of policies Government is implementing to bring back the days of rapid growth.
Strong commitment
The President reiterated his commitment to confronting the challenges facing the country and ensure Ghana continues to become the beacon of hope in Africa.
“I want to assure you that my devotion to the Ghana Project is unwavering. The enemy we face is not each other. We can only win this battle if we stick together, and pull in the same direction, regardless of our divergent viewpoints. I am confident that we are on the right path, and I ask for your support so that we can continue the transformation of Ghana in peace”, President Akufo-Addo emphasised.
