President Akufo-Addo seems happy with what he has been able to achieve barely five weeks in office.

Addressing members of the diplomatic community in Ghana at the presidency Wednesday evening during which they presented their New Year message to the president, he was elated about the fact that though he is still in the process of forming his government, his administration is gradually taking shape.

“I’ve been in office barely five weeks but so far so good,” he articulated to a loud applause from the gathering.

Delight

President Akufo-Addo said “Parliament has approved all my 36 ministerial nominees who have been sworn into office; the 10 regional ministers are currently being vetted and shortly, I will announce my nominees for the positions of deputy ministers.”

The president stated, “The various metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives will soon be announced and already, a number of heads of state institutions and agencies have been appointed, albeit in acting capacity, pending the constitution of the Council of State.”

He also talked about the fact that he has appointed 11 eminent Ghanaians to the Council of State and the names of two distinguished former leaders of the security services to parliament for approval to the Council as required by the Constitution.

Expectation

“I expect that by the middle of next month, God willing, the full complement of the Akufo-Addo administration will be in place, so we can mobilise all our forces to deliver on the mandate entrusted so emphatically on our shoulders by the Ghanaian people on 7th December, 2016,” President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism.

He was particularly touched that he became Ghana’s president in the 60th year of its independence, describing it as a symbolic year.

He expressed the hope that “the remembrance of the sacrifices and efforts of our founding fathers – those who gave their lives to achieve our independence – will guide and motivate me in the discharge of this high office,” whiles praying for God’s support.

Support

On her part, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Pavelyn Tendai Lusaka, Zimbabwe High Commissioner, who spoke on behalf of members of the diplomatic community, expressed confidence in President Akufo-Addo.

She underscored, “The diplomatic community looks forward to government’s articulation to national development plans over the next two months and stands ready to align its support to emerging national priorities on agricultural transformation to drive jobs and growth, private sector development, good governance and domestic resource mobilization in line with Ghana’s needs and expectations as a middle income country.

“We applaud the government’s intention to continue dialogue on constitutional reforms, political decentralization and bringing accountability for development closer to communities.”

She commended the government’s efforts at completing the national identification and land registration.