President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has thanked the people of Ghana for the mandate to serve the nation as President since 2017. Delivering his final State of the Nation Address today Friday, January 3, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “Mr. Speaker, it is important to state, at the outset, that serving the Ghanaian people as President has been the greatest honour of my life. It has been one of great challenges and even greater triumphs, one that has demanded every ounce of my energy, commitment and love for our beloved country.”
Nana Akufo-Addo said his vision has always been to see a Ghana that is self-reliant, prosperous and united—a beacon of hope, democracy and opportunity in Africa and beyond. He added that vision remains undimmed.
“And I am confident that the strides we have made together will propel Ghana to even greater heights” he stressed.
As Commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Akufo-Addo reported that the country’s territorial integrity has been kept intact and all borders of the nation are secure, emphasizing that the first responsibility of a government is the safety and security of the state and its people.
He indicated, “In a neighbourhood of widespread instability, it is no longer an assumption we can make that our land would be safe and secure. Ghana, by the grace of God, remains the only country in the neighbourhood that has not fallen victim to terrorist violence”.
“It has taken a lot of concerted effort, and, dare I say, a lot of money to enable us protect our country from the ravages of the variety of terrorist groups operating and destabilising other countries in the neighbourhood. I wish to pay great homage to the security services and their ministerial leaders for the work they do every day to keep us safe” Nana stated.
Meanwhile, highlighting on the issue of internal security, the President expressed worry over the persistent chieftaincy disturbances in some parts of the nation particularly the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy stalemate.
“Unfortunately, the sad situation in Bawku must necessarily dampen any enthusiasm about the resolution of chieftaincy problems elsewhere. It is a matter of great regret and distress to me personally that, in spite of our best efforts, the Bawku conflict remains unresolved. Bawku is, unhappily, not the only area of chieftaincy conflict, and, judging from the experience of other parts of the country, I will have to mark chieftaincy as a growing source of insecurity that would continue to require a lot of attention” the President lamented.
Nana Akufo-Addo recounted efforts his administration made to bring finality to the age-long Dagbon chieftaincy crisis with the assistance of the eminent chiefs led by the Otumfuo, the Nayiri and the Yagbonwura in 2019.
He therefore proposed the need to strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and the Peace Council – the two frontline institutions responsible for dealing with chieftaincy and other disputes in the country.
