Nana Akufo-Addo: Building a Strong Ghana.

Our country Ghana, stands in need of a new leader, who is a true servant of the people, to propel her growth and development to economic prosperity based on respect for the will of the people. The sustenance of Ghana’s democracy and attainment of its possibilities depend on the involvement of all capable men of goodwill. At this point in time of Ghana’s history, all citizens must ensure the emergence of a credible and focused leadership at the national level that will actualise the Ghanaian dream of affordable housing for all, access to basic social services, qualitative education, job creation especially for the youth, create the spirit of enterprise, and a functional economy. I strongly believe that, Nana Akufo-Addo fits the bill as the right and best leader to lead Ghana in 2009

and beyond based on his experience, competence, intellect, vision, excellent

managerial skills, good leadership qualities and a history of service to Ghana. I

am supporting a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency because, he has over the years

worked tirelessly for the progress of this great nation of ours.

As I listened raptly to Nana Akufo-Addo’s evening encounter speech at the Alisa

Hotel organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (Ghana) on his programme

of action if elected President of Ghana, he struck me as a man with an air of

believability around him. Convincing, compelling, consummately passionate and

well grounded on topical issues, he has a contagious mien. Nana Akufo-Addo

means different things to different people. He is a man people love to hate and

hate to love. Either way, he just cannot be ignored. As one of the most

recognizable faces in the media and Ghana today, he is a leading light in the

fields of the legal profession, private sector, passionate advocate of human rights

and social justice nationally and internationally. Our frontline presidential candidate

also has tentacles in several high value-yielding enterprises in Ghana providing

valuable employment to hundreds of Ghanaians.

A visionary, competent, committed, credible, capable, versatile, charismatic, savvy,

suave, excellence exemplifying, captivating, inspirational, down to earth and

likeable lawyer, politician, entrepreneur, activist, leader, empowerment speaker and

resource person, is how Nana Akufo-Addo has been described in various fora. He is

deeply passionate about giving Ghana its long neglected place of pride in the comity

of nations. A true nationalist, he is an issue-driven grassroots politician, with a

patriotic zeal to move the nation forward in all ramifications. Nana Akufo-Addo has a

clear understanding of the complex and vexing challenges facing Ghana and has

outlined a clear and practical programme of rapid infrastructural and manpower

development to tackle them as such. His simplicity, sincerity, and downright

forthrightness have won him the hearts of many Ghanaians who see him as one

leader they can trust. An overview of the vast experience Nana Akufo-Addo has

garnered over thirty years at the top level in both the public and private sector, are

reasons to believe that he is all that is needed to make the desired change in our

dear nation. He is a viable alternative to the throng of politicians gunning for a short

at the Castle.

Nana Akufo-Addo when elected President of Ghana, will lead a people-centred

government which will invariably lead to long-term and widespread improvement in

the human condition of the people. He has continually, verbally articulated his vision

which demonstrates originality and personal commitment to the vision outlined which

assures the voters that the outlined vision is not simply a borrowed one unlike

others. As an experience team player, he acknowledges the fact that, these huge

responsibilities of governance cannot be carried out alone but, must be in concert

with others hence, his intention to work collectively with the legislature, judiciary,

civil society organisations, private sector, and academia to find lasting solutions to

Ghana’s developmental challenges. Nana Akufo-Addo brings to the table credible

leadership based on integrity, character, commitment, compassion, courage and

conviction to serve the interest of the Ghanaian people. The vision of Nana Addo is

to build and sustain a nation with a vibrant economy designed to serve the people’s

interest in which good governance and transparent institutions combine to create a

free and democratic society that guarantees opportunity for all citizens. He is by far

the best presidential candidate who can fast track development in every sector of

our national life. Ghana needs a knowledgeable and selfless leader such as Nana

Akufo-Addo to build on the enormous gains chalked thus far and take it to another

level for the benefit of all Ghanaians. Nana Akufo-Addo would be a good President

for Ghana.

He will be in a good position to sustain the achievements of President Kufour’s

administration. We must ensure continuity in policies. Investors do not want a policy

shift and somersault. Any policy somersault can scare away investors. It is my

fervent believe that, his attributes of prudence, probity, accountability, transparency,

and genuine love for the people of Ghana gives him the edge over his competitors. I

have no doubt that, Nana Akufo-Addo’s background and rich experience have more

than prepared him for the task ahead. Given our situation in Ghana today, Nana

Akufo-Addo’s integrity, astuteness, decisiveness and yet humble and accommodating

personality will be crucial in resolving many of Ghana’s economic challenges. With his

energy and drive, I firmly believe that his avowed position on the respect of the rule

of law, freedom of expression and the rights of Ghanaians will work to further

entrench our strength in diversity. He offers a sustained leadership pattern that is

guided by longing to serve his fellow countrymen. Under his watch, he will offer a

leadership style which is “other-centred and not self-centred”. What stands him out

from the crowd is that, he is not only talking about the problems, he is infact coming

up with ideas on how to solve them. Instead of repeating the usual Ghanaian

political mantra “I will fix education, healthcare and provide employment”, he is one

candidate who is actually laying out an agenda and the ways and means to

transform rhetoric into reality.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s entrepreneurial acumen is proof that, unlike many a Ghanaian

politician, this legal luminary turned politician will not be a drain on the nation’s

treasury. On education, hear Nana Akufo-Addo, “our children must receive

functional education that will enable them achieve their full potentials. Human

capital development is a promise we must keep”. I don’t know about you but, as for

me, Nana Akufo-Addo is one candidate that understands the stakes. No one is

promising El Dorado here, but I can assure you this, if you support Nana Akufo-Addo

for presidency, you will have a listening ear in the Castle. He is one person who will

respect the constitution and will work diligently for the Ghanaian people. No one is

feigning naivety here, no one is saying the task to take back our country will be an

easy one but, I am surely saying with your support, it is absolutely possible. On

national security, the focus is equally two fold, decentralizing the police force with

greater regional, district and local participation while simultaneously increasing the

number of police officers. A decentralized, retrained, better led, well paid and

motivated police force will be what is required to address issues of law and order.

Nana Akufo-Addo would transform Ghana through his seven Cs- commitment,

competence, character, creativity, cooperation, courage and conviction to engender

the needed economic transformation of the nation. No nation would attain any

meaningful development if it lacked such variables as good leadership which Nana

Akufo-Addo offers with ease, quality human capital and effective institutions. He will

fight corruption which will be done through personal example. The easiest way is to

lead by such immaculate, transparent personal example that nobody will have the

incentive to try it differently. Institutions such as CHRAJ and SFO etc will receive

increased funding to enable such institutions function more effectively and with more

transparency so that Ghanaians will see justice being done. A good leader as

he is, Nana Akufo-Addo will be transparent, and put in place institutions that will

ensure vertical accountability in such a way that people can hold him accountable on

a continued basis, develop systems and processes where indices of performance will

be available to the ordinary people. He will ensure that, Parliament enacts the

Freedom of Information Bill immediately which will give individual Ghanaians (not

just journalists only) the right to demand for files to be made available to see that

the interest of the Ghanaian people is taken into account.

Under a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency, there will be cooperation between his

government and Ghanaians in the diaspora. He will do this not only in terms of

professionals hired but rather, do this in terms of creating industrial parks across

Ghana in which the conditions will be attractive to enable Ghanaians in the diaspora

to mobilise their networks and make investments with all the enablers for them to

make a major transformation of the Ghanaian economic environment. Without

putting pressure on anyone to jump on the next plane and come to Ghana, he will

create a system where Ghanaians in the diaspora will see mutual benefits in the

transition. The continuation of NPP in government under Nana Akufo-Addo starts

with you and me, when we recognize that, he is fit for public office, ready and

willing to live out a new philosophy of accountability, incorruptibility, excellence,

integrity, good governance, nationalism, vision, credibility, competence, diligence,

positivism, social responsibility, youth and women empowerment as well as a track

record of public service. No candidate in the current political spectrum best

exemplifies these worthy attributes than NANA AKUFO-ADDO. He is one of the faces

of a re-birthed Ghana- one that can hold her head high in the international arena.

I am appealing to all Ghanaians to appreciate the competence of Nana Akufo-Addo

and for them to give him their votes and with God on our side, we will collectively be

able to move this country to the desired level. The mobilization of progressive forces is already on and no force on earth can stand against an idea whose time has come: a Nana Akufo-Addo presidency.

NANA YAW OSSEI

LONDON, UK.
Email: nyossei@yahoo.com