The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo has decried the “poor state of Ghana” as the nation celebrates its 59th Independence anniversary today, March 6, 2016.

“It is unfortunate, however, that fifty-nine (59) years after gaining our independence, Ghana, a country blessed with an abundance of human and natural resources, is in a crisis – 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,” Nana Addo said in a statement to mark the anniversary.

However, he added: “Let us, however, not despair and lose hope in the ability of our nation to offer her citizens a decent livelihood. 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.”

Below is the full statement of the NPP presidential candidate:


On behalf of the leadership and membership of the New Patriotic Party, I wish all Ghanaians a Happy Independence Anniversary celebration.

On this momentous occasion, it is critical that we take stock of what we have done with our freedom, and where we are now as a nation. Our forebears who fought to liberate us from colonial rule believed that freedom is the primary end, as well as the means to development, with the well-being of each and every individual as both the goal and means of development.

It is unfortunate, however, that fifty-nine (59) years after gaining our independence, Ghana, a country blessed with an abundance of human and natural resources, is in a crisis – 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.

Let us, however, not despair and lose hope in the ability of our nation to offer her citizens a decent livelihood. 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.

Let us believe in Ghana and do what is right by our nation, and thereby fulfil the dreams and aspirations of those far-sighted individuals who initiated the steps for our national freedom and independence.

As we head to the polls, in this election year, it is important that we all work together, with our public institutions, to ensure that we have a level electoral playing field. We want free, fair and credible elections whose outcomes will be readily accepted by all. That is the best guarantee of the peace, stability and democracy of our country.

I salute and wish the people of Ghana a happy 59th Independence Anniversary.

God bless Ghana! God bless us all

….signed…..
Nana Akufo-Addo
2016 NPP Presidential Candidate