President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has endorsed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the ideal candidate for the presidency who is ready to serve the nation if elected.
He emphasised his extensive preparation over the last 16 years to serve the nation in this capacity and urged Ghanaians to elect Bawumia, stressing his innovative ideas and vision for transforming the country.
The President made this appeal while addressing the leadership of the NPP-USA chapter in New York on Sunday, September 22, 2024.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where the NPP-USA leaders expressed their gratitude to Akufo-Addo for his dedicated service as President over the past eight years.
“We need to work hard, we need to stay united, we need to stay united behind Bawumia and push him to make history and to get him to be the person who breaks the eight for us. That should be our attitude, that we all come together.
“He [Bawumia] is a very capable man. I have sat in meetings with him for the last 16 years, he is full of ideas, he is full of energy and he is very serious about the development of our country and he has prepared himself to be President. He has prepared himself to be President,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
“So, what is our duty, the rest of us, to come together, to stay focused, and to do whatever we can, each one of us, in our small way, to make sure that on the 7 December, the majority will come in our favour. We can do it, so let us make it our duty to do it,” President Akufo-Addo further remarked.
Impact of Education in Asia
In his address, President Akufo-Addo referring to the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) John Mahama, called on Ghanaians to set aside any politician who says he or she intends to review the free senior high school (Free SHS) policy his administration has implemented over the last 8 years since assuming office.
The President observed that what has made the difference in Korea, a country that gained independence at the same time as Ghana, is essentially the fact that they wholeheartedly embarrassed education at the early stages of their development but Ghana did not do the same.
“They decided right from the beginning to put all their money right into education. We didn’t but they did, so it is not surprising that today, they are in the very top-ranked countries who are succeeding with their economy,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“If we have the same commitment and we get away from politicians who talk about reviewing free SHS, we can put those politicians aside and continue with those who believe in the transformation of our country not by words but by deeds, I think that we too within a generation will make the same kind of transition and transformations that countries like Korea did,” he added.
Chairperson of NPP-USA, Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong on behalf of the chapter, expressed their profound appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for his service to the country and for introducing the Free SHS policy right from the beginning of his administration. To demonstrate their appreciation, the NPP-USA chapter presented President Akufo-Addo with a citation.
“As you exit the political scenes considering your years of political struggle and your eventual ascension as the 5th president of the 4th Republic of Ghana, many policies and programmes stand tall as your legacy of generational impact for many years to come.
“One such legacy of significance which epitomises your exemplary and visionary leadership is the conceptualisation and implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme, which has given hope to many, boosted education and human resource development in Ghana, breaking down barriers and providing young Ghanaians with equitable, affordable and accessibility to education,” the citation read.
“Without your thoughtfulness, creativity, and determined leadership, our beloved country Ghana couldn’t have succeeded in implementing such generational policy.
“This unprecedented milestone cannot go uncelebrated. NPP-USA, for that reason, proudly confers on you a Lifetime Achievement Award this day, 22 September 2024, with the enviable title: NHOMASUAWURA (Champion of Education). Ayekooo Mr President!” it further read.