The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described the eight year administration of the NPP under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor as the most progressive administration in his adult life, an administration that brought to life the concept of development in freedom.

He made this known at a ceremony to commemorate the 72nd Birthday of His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor and also in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of his historic victory in the 2000 general elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 2007 under the leadership of President Kufuor was one of the myriad of achievements that the NPP government recorded in its eight year rule.

“It took a careful and determined effort on the part of the NPP government, led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, together with all the Jubilee partners, for this feat to be achieved. Like many others, who know how far our nation has come on that front, and how much you personally put in to ensure this discovery, we say to you your Excellency, ayekoooo!” he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed that a few days ago, Ghana’s Social Health Insurance Model was recognised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and singled out for the coveted South-South Cooperation Excellence Award, in Geneva, Switzerland.

He further added that a documentary aired on the BBC in 2008 stressed the importance of the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant and the positive impact the two are having on primary school enrolment in Ghana. Both social interventions were instituted under the NPP’s rule led by President Kufuor.

“In the area of governance, Ghana scored an excellent record of good governance under NPP’s rule. The separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary and the Legislature were respected. The media enjoyed unprecedented freedom. The rule of law prevailed and the fundamental human rights of the people were respected,” Akufo-Addo said.

Nana Akufo-Addo also recalled the rapid economic progress which helped half national poverty rates, from approximately 50 per cent in 1991 to 28.5 per cent by 2006.

He further went on to say that those who fiercely challenged the fact that the GDP of Ghana had quadrupled (or grew tenfold per rebasing) under the Presidency of John Agyekum Kufuort were today basking in the recent assertion that Ghana has now reached middle income status.

“The argument as to who is the best president in our history will in due course be settled by the historians. For me, it is enough to say how proud I was and am to have been a member, dare I say it even a senior member, of the most progressive administration in my adult life, an administration that brought to life the concept of development in freedom,” Nana Addo said.

Nana Akufo-Addo recounted, particularly, how proud he was to have been the instrument chosen by President Kufuour to facilitate the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law which has led to a radical expansion of media freedom in our country.

“There are many people today, who, when they see the abuse to which that freedom is being subjected by some irresponsible elements in the media, question the wisdom of the repeal. Even though I am one of the greatest victims of that abuse, I still insist that media freedom is of itself vital for the welfare of the society,” Akufo-Addo further added.