Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pointed out that Ghana is in crisis as a result of poor leadership.

He said after over five decades since independence, the country is in crisis as “evidenced in widespread despondency, brought about by severe hardships, rising cost of living, high levels of youth unemployment, collapsed businesses, unprecedented strikes, demonstrations and increasing poverty.

“Surely, this is not the vision of Ghana our ancestors had hoped for,” he stated.

Nana Addo, however, asked Ghanaians not to despair, charging: “Let us stride into the future confident that we will make it if we work at it. I am confident that we can transform our nation and use all the blessings that the Almighty has bestowed on us to bring prosperity to all our people.

“We can do it. God did not put us on this rich land to be poor. It is bad leadership that makes us poor.”

These were contained in his statement to mark the country’s 59th independence celebration, which he attended at the Black Star Square on Sunday, March 6.

The ceremony was addressed by President John Dramani Mahama with Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta as the Special Guest. Guinea-Bissau's Jose Mario Vaz also graced the occasion.

Speaking after the ceremony, Nana Addo was unhappy President Mahama did not speak to the current challenges Ghana is facing.

“This would have been an opportunity for him to address the nation and told them that ‘Yes I am aware of the difficulties that we have but these are the things that I am calling on all of us to do that will address the challenges’.”