The 2016 Flagbearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has said his dream is to transform Ghana into an industrialised economy if he gets elected as President in the next general elections.

Akufo-Addo told the new Japanese Ambassador who visited him Thursday at his Nima residence in Accra that he aims to transform “our agrarian economy into a modern and industrialised one, which is self-reliant and plays an active part in the global trade system, and which will deliver prosperity for the Ghanaian people.”

The former Attorney General said his vision will be hinged on the building of an environment of democratic principles, a vibrant market economy and strong support for Ghanaian entrepreneurs as a way to propel the Ghanaian economy forward.

“It is a paradigm that will work and one we strongly believe can deliver continued prosperity for the Ghanaian people,” he told Kaoru Yoshimura, who was accompanied by his First Secretary, Dr. Yoshihiko Higuchi.

The purpose of Yoshimura’s call on Nana Akufo-Addo was to introduce himself as Japan’s new Ambassador to Ghana and to congratulate Akufo-Addo on his victory in the October 18 presidential primary of the NPP.

He stated his determination during his tenure to reinforce his country’s continued partnership and economic co-operation with Ghana.

Ambassador Yoshimura, in his brief remarks, also stated that Ghana’s best bet of securing the much-needed investment into the country was by ensuring the stabilisation of the macroeconomic environment, as well as reducing the country’s public debt portfolio to sustainable levels.

Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Ambassador for his visit, stating that: “we are very much inspired by the examples of countries like yours; countries which, in a short period of time, were able to change the circumstances of their society and economy. That model, the Asian model, is one that is dear to me and it provides inspiration as to how we can also make progress.”

Present at the meeting were Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo; Hon Isaac Osei, MP for Subin and Minority Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs; and Charles Owiredu, Director of International Relations of the NPP.